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THE 

UNIQUE, 

A  BOOK    OF    ITS    OWN    KIND: 

CONTAINING  A  VARIETY  OF 

HINTS, 

THROWN  OUT  IN  A  VARIETY  OF  WAYS, 
TOR 

EVANGELICAL  MINISTERS,  CHURCHES, 
AND  CHRISTIANS, 

BT 

GREGORY    GODOLPHIN. 


'  Look  in  this  mirror  and  behold  thy  face.' 


BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED    BY   JOHN    PUTNAM. 
81   Cornhill. 

1844. 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1844, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court,  for  the  District 

of  Massachusetts. 


CONTENTS. 


PREFACE, v 

CHAP.  L  The  Ministry  of  Rev.  Hezekiah  Blue- 

ville, 1 

CHAP.  II.  Rev.  Paul  H.  Clarendon,  .  .  13 
CHAP.  ILL  An  Anti-Slavery  Dialogue,  .  .  21 
CHAP.  IV.  Rev.  Theophilus  Merton,  .  .  30 
CHAP.  V.  A  Burlesque  Letter,  .  .  .38 
CHAP.  VI.  Henry  Greedy,  ....  46 
CHAP.  VIL  A  Colloquy  in  Deacon  Stephen 

Martin's  Store, 55 

CHAP.  VEL  Mr.  Pompoloni,  ....  66 
CHAP.  IX.  Rev.  Yates  Yerrington,  .  .  74 
CHAP.  X.  Colonel  Richard  Forrester,  .  .  82 
CHAP.  XL  Temperance  Interview,  .  .  97 
CHAP.  XII.  The  Contrast — Ugly  Deacon  Brake ; 

Good  Deacon  Drake,  ....  104 
CHAP.  XHL  Rev.  James  Jenkinson  Jenkins,  .  110 


IV  CONTENTS. 

CHAP.  XIV.  Cheating  by  Churches,  as  Church- 
es, ..,  117 

CHAP.  XV.    Rev.  Christopher  Fickle,       .        .  125 

CHAP.  XVI.  Extracts  from  the  Diary  of  Rev. 
Barzillai  Barmley, 133 

CHAP.  XVIL  Letter  from  Rev.  Tobias  Sincere 

to  Rev.  Asa  Agar,  upon  Evangelism,  .  145 

CHAP.  XVm.    Horse-Shed  Conversation,        .  159 

CHAP.  XIX.     Obadiah  Keedle,     ...       166 

CHAP.  XX.  Certain  Members  of  Certain  Church- 
es,    .  .  .181 

CHAP.  XXI.  Conversation  between  Rev.  Mark 
Colewood  and  Rev.  Ezekiel  J.  Melrose,  199 

CHAP.  XXII.  Rev.  Thomas  Thompson  Tomp- 
kinson, 217 

CONCLUSION, 230 


P  II  E  F  A  C  E. 


"Of  making  many  books  there  is  no  end.'7 
Thus  spake  king  Solomon,  and  if  he  had  lived 
in  this  day,  he  probably  would  have  seen  no 
reason  to  alter  this  opinion.  Has  not  this  age 
somewhere  been  called  a  book-making  age  ? 
Every  one,  however,  who  makes  a  book, 
whether  from  his  own  brain,  or  from  other 
men's  productions,  has  some  motive  or  mo- 
tives for  doing  so.  The  writer  of  this  volume 
was  actuated  by  certain  motives  in  preparing 
it,  which  were  entirely  satisfactory  to  his  own 
mind  ;  but  he  does  not  apprehend  that  it  will 
particularly  subserve  the  cause  of  truth  to 
make  known  to  the  public  what  these  motives 


VI  PREFACE. 

were.  Therefore  the  readers  of  the  Unique 
may  ascribe  to  the  author  such  motives  as  their 
good  sense  may  dictate.  If  they  give  him  the 
credit  of  good  motives,  he  will  be  glad  ;  if  bad, 
he  will  be  sorry ;  but  yet  not  sorry  that  he 
wrote  the  book. 

If  you  say  to  a  poet  that  a  certain  thing,  in 
any  of  his  productions,  is  improper,  or  inaccu- 
rate, or  offends  good  taste,  or  find  any  kind  of 
fault — he  answers,  "Oh,  that  is  allowed  by 
poetic  license."  Poetic  license  is  a  curious 
sort  of  a  character.  He  throws  the  mantle  of 
charity  over  many  things  that,  otherwise, 
would  suffer  by  exposure. 

The  author  of  this  work  thinks  that  he 
ought  to  be  indulged  with  a  sort  of  poetic  li- 
cense ;  and  that  the  fault-finders  should  all  re- 
member that  the  book  is  unique — a  book  of  its 
own  kind — unlike  other  books — and  therefore 
great  and  charitable  allowance  should  be  made. 
He  cannot  see  why  he  should  not  escape  on 
the  ground  of  an  unique  license,  as  well  as  the 


PREFACE.  Vll 

poet  on  the  ground  of  a  poetic  license.  How- 
ever, as  some  may  be  unwilling  to  grant  him 
any  such  license,  he  would  say,  that  should 
any  fastidious  readers  object  to  the  language 
used  by  any  of  the  characters  that  figure  in 
this  book,  they  must  remember  that  it  is  un- 
reasonable to  make  the  author  responsible  for 
the  language  of  every  church  member.  He 
does  not  keep  a  school  to  teach  them,  and  he 
did  not  deem  it  his  duty  to  correct  them. 
They  must  talk  in  their  own  way.  Should 
any  say,  No  man  ever  reasoned  as  foolishly  as 
some  in  this  book  are  said  to  have  done,  the 
writer  would  not  contradict  such,  but,  gently 
begging  their  pardon,  would  take  the  liberty  to 
remark  that  they  are  mistaken.  He  knows  of 
facts  that  would  perfectly  satisfy  any  ingenuous 
minded  man,  that  some  church  members  rea- 
soned, or,  more  properly,  talked,  even  more 
foolishly  than  any  of  the  talkers  in  this  book. 

Possibly,  some  may  object  to  the  repre- 
sentations herein  contained,  and  say  they  do 


V1U  PREFACE. 

not  fairly  describe  evangelical  ministers,  church- 
es and  Christians.*  Two  things  the  writer 
would  request  the  objector  to  keep  in  kind  re- 
membrance. First,  that  he  nowhere  intimates 
that  these  representations  are  applicable  to  all 
cases.  Second,  that  if  the  objector  does  not 
know  of  cases  to  which  they  are  applicable, 
others  may.  The  objector  is  not  competent 
to  decide  this  point,  unless  he  is  acquainted 
with  all  the  evangelical  ministers,  churches  and 
Christians  in  the  United  States.  It  may  be  a 
very  easy  thing  for  him  to  say,  the  picture  is 
overdrawn,  but  it  would  be  a  very  difficult  mat- 
ter to  prove  it.  It  may  be  objected  to  the 
contents  of  the  Unique,  that  they  expose  too 
many  things  in  the  religious  world.  Gentle 
objector,  remember,  worldly  men  know  all 
these  things,  and  complain  that  religious  peo- 
ple try  to  cover  them  up.  They  certainly 

*  It  is  possible  for  a  man  to  be  a  Christian,  and 
maintain  a  course  not  strictly  evangelical. 


PREFACE.  IX 

will  think  none  the  worse  of  Christians,  if  they 
speak  and  write  about  the  evils  in  the  church, 
and  by  so  doing,  try  to  bring  about  a  more  evi- 
dent consistency  between  the  Christian  profes- 
sion and  practice. 

It  may  be  said  that  in  some  of  the  narratives, 
matters  are  introduced  that  do  not  strictly  be- 
long there.  That  is  true  ;  but  in  all  such  in- 
stances there  was  a  special  object  in  view,  and 
it  would  make  too  long  a  story  for  the  writer 
to  explain,  in  each  instance,  what  that  object 
was.  Having  said  thus  much,  he  leaves  his 
readers  to  find  whatever  fault  they  please. 

Should  any  persons  suppose  they  are  repre- 
sented by  any  of  the  characters  herein  drawn, 
the  author  can  only  say,  they  know  much  bet- 
ter than  he  does,  how  nearly  these  characters 
correspond  with  their  own,  and  if  they  find 
coats  that  fit  them,  he  would  on  no  account 
whatever,  take  the  responsibility  of  saying  they 
must  not  wear  them.  Rather  will  it  be  his 
prayer,  that  in  wearing  them  they  may  find 


PREFACE. 


much  comfort ;  that  they  may  warm  them,  as 
well  as  cover  them  ;  and  prove  useful  and  well- 
fitting  garments.  He  does  not  say  that  he  had 
any  persons  in  view,  but  should  any  think  so, 
he  would  by  no  means  interfere  with  their  free- 
dom of  opinion. 

No  doubt  there  will  be  a  difference  of  opin- 
ion in  reference  to  the  Unique.  While  some 
may  think  it  was  called  for,  and  came  just  in 
the  nick  of  time,  others  may  think  it  was  un- 
called for,  and  had  better  been  burned  than 
published.  Probably  some  cautious,  prudent 
brethren  will  wisely  shrug  the  shoulders,  and 
still  more  wisely  shake  the  head,  and  say,  I 
am  rather  afraid  of  its  influence ;  and  others, 
perhaps,  will  say,  I  think  it  will  prove  useful. 
At  any  rate,  I  arn  willing  it  should  be  read, 
and  then  leave  it  to  a  higher  power  to  take 
care  of  its  influence. 

"  Some  said,  John,  print  it,  others  said,  not  so. 
Some  said,  it  might  do  good,  others  said,  no." 


PREFACE.  XI 

Many  ministers,  churches,  and  private 
Christians  can  take  useful  hints  from  this  book, 
if  they  choose  ;  and  if  they  do  not  choose  to 
do  so,  the  responsibility  will  lie  at  their  own 
door.  Should  any  individuals  take  a  hint  from 
it,  that  should  exert  a  good  practical  influence 
upon  their  lives,  the  writer  will  be  perfectly 
satisfied  with  that,  and  will  cheerfully  let  them 
think  of  him  and  his  book  in  any  manner  that 
will  be  most  comfortable  to  themselves. 

People  often  speak,  when  discussing  the 
merits  of  any  publication,  as  if  this  world  were 
all  in  all.  We  should  remember  that  there  is 
another  world,  of  much  more  importance  to 
us  than  this.  The  writer  has  tried  to  keep 
this  fact  in  view. 

Had  he  written  merely  to  please,  he  would 
have  taken  a  different  subject ;  or,  at  least,  he 
would  have  omitted  much  that  this  volume 
contains. 

Unique  Street,  Castle  Terrace,  ? 
.Vovember  9th,  1843.      S 


THE    UNiaUE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  MINISTRY  OF  REV.  HEZEKIAH  BLUEVILLE. 
"  A  man  he  was  to  all  the  country  dear." 

On  a  mild  and  balmy  day  towards  the  close 
of  the  summer  of  18 — ,  just  as  the  sun  was 
beginning  to  peep  over  the  mountains,  and 
scatter  by  his  genial  rays  the  mists  that  had 

shrouded  the  valley  of  A ,  two  young  men 

with  quickened  pace  were  hurrying  along  the 
somewhat  winding  and  romantic  road  of  that 
valley,  and  rapidly  lessening  the  distance  be- 
tween them  and  the  pleasant  village  of  B , 

nothing  of  which  could  as  yet  be  discerned, 
but  the  spire  of  its  neat  and  pretty  church. 

Something  in  their  looks,  as  the  bland 
1 


2  THE    UNIQUE, 

zephyrs  of  the  morn  threw  back  their  flurried 
and  flowing  locks,  denoted  a  sorrowful  earnest- 
ness, which,  with  the  celerity  of  their  move- 
ments, plainly  evinced  that  they  had  some 
object  before  them  of  more  than  ordinary  in- 
terest. Not  a  word  was  spoken.  In  silence 
they  hastened  onward,  and  the  stillness  of  the 
vale,  save  when  broken  now  and  then  by  the 
clear,  sweet  carol  of  some  morning  songster, 
seemed  so  pensively  in  accordance  with  the 
feelings  of  the  brothers,  for  brothers  they  were, 
that  both  were  reluctant  to  invade  it  by  the 
sounds  of  the  human  voice.  In  this  way  they 
reached  the  village,  and  then  they  spoke  not ; 
not  even  to  those  who  were  going  forth  to  the 
labors  of  the  day  ;  but  quickly  passing  nearly 
the  whole  length  of  its  beautiful  green,  on  both 
sides  of  which  stately  trees  were  gently  waving 
their  rich  and  luxuriant  foliage,  they  for  a  mo- 
ment stopped.  Then  opening  the  gate  of  a 
small  front  yard  tastily  adorned  with  flowers 
of  every  hue,  giving  off  their  sweetest  fragrance 
to  the  morning  air,  they  noiselessly  trod  its 
little  walk.  With  trembling  hand  the  latch  of 
the  door  was  raised,  and  then  half  smothered 
notes  of  mourning  fell  upon  their  ears.  The 


REV.  MR.  BLCEVILLE'S  MINISTRY.         3 

tones  of  a  sister's  voice  were  heard,  but  alas, 
how  changed !  How  different  from  those 
blithe  and  joyous  tones  with  which  she  had  in- 
variably greeted  them  on  previous  visits  to 
their  home. 

Vainly  endeavoring  to  subdue  her  grief,  how 
mournfully  did  she  cry,  "Oh  James,  Oh 
Henry,  dear  father  has  gone ;  he  is  dead  !  he 
is  dead ! !" 

We  will  not  detain  the  reader  at  the  house 
of  mourning.  We  will  not  dwell  upon  the 
anguish  of  the  brothers,  the  sister,  the  mother, 
the  whole  family.  Suffice  it  to  say,  he  whom 
they  now  mourned  was  a  man  of  God,  a  min- 
ister of  the  gospel,  a  father  in  Israel.  As  he 
had  lived,  so  he  died,  trusting  in  Christ  alone 
for  salvation;  and  when  "heart  and  flesh  failed 
him,"  his  Redeemer  did  not  desert  him,  but 
by  "his  rod  and  his  staff  comforted  him"  as 
he  passed  "through  the  valley  of  the  shadow 
of  death." 

Rev.  Hezekiah  Blueville  was  settled  in 

A ,  in  17 ;  and  if  he  had  remained  on 

earth  but  one  month  more,  he  would  have 
been  the  pastor  of  the  church  in  that  village 
forty-seven  years.  Being  but  twenty-four 


4  THE    UNIQUE. 

years  of  age  when  ordained  as  the  spiritual 
guide  of  his  people,  he  gave  them  the  vigor  of 
his  youth,  the  strength  of  his  ripened  manhood, 
and  the  experience  of  his  age.  He  ardently 
loved  his  flock,  and  desired  no  greater  blessing 
than  to  "  spend  and  be  spent"  in  doing  good 
among  them.  Cheerfully  did  he  labor  "  in 
season  and  out  of  season,"  to  benefit  the  pre- 
cious, deathless  souls  committed  to  his  charge  ; 
and  many  and  earnest  were  his  prayers  that  these 
labors  might  not  be  in  vain.  His  prayers  were 
heard  ;  these  labors  were  not  in  vain  ;  God  sig- 
nally blessed  them,  and  honored  him  as  the 
instrument  of  leading  his  own  people  in  the 
"right  teat/,"  and  of  turning  many  sinners  to 
righteousness,  who  doubtless  will  shine  as  gems 
in  his  brilliant  crown  forever. 

If  the  pastor  loved  his  people,  among  whom 
he  thus  was  blessed,  it  may  of  a  truth  be  said 
that  the  people  sincerely  loved  their  pastor. 
-Although  the  greater  portion  of  those  who 
composed  the  church  and  congregation  at  the 
time  of  his  ordination  had  entered  the  world 
beyond  the  tomb,  there  were  a  little  remnant 
of  his  own  age,  and  still  a  few  more  who  were 
nearly  as  far  advanced  in  life  as  himself,  re- 


REV.  MR.  BLUEVILLE'S  MINISTRY.         5 

maining  at  the  day  of  his  death.  These  cher- 
ished feelings  of  the  highest  regard  and  truest 
affection  for  their  devoted  pastor ;  and  those  that 
were  younger,  even  down  to  the  children,  loved 
and  reverenced  this  holy  servant  of  the  Lord. 

"Ev'n  children  followed  with  endearing  wile, 
And  plucked  his  gown  to  share  the  good  man's 
smile." 

As  a  preacher,  he  was  plain,  earnest  and  im- 
pressive, always  delivering  sermons  that  inter- 
ested, and  which,  at  the  same  time,  clearly 
disclosed  the  fact  that  his  object  was  not  so 
much  to  gain  the  applause  of  the  people,  as 
it  was  to  do  them  good,  and  thereby  secure 
the  approbation  of  his  God. 

Perhaps  scarcely  any  minister  would  come 
nearer  Cowper's  familiar  description  of  a  good 
preacher. 

"  Simple,  grave,  sincere, 
In  doctrine  uncorrupt,  in  language  plain, 
And  plain  in  manner ;  decent,  solemn,  chaste, 
And  natural  in  gesture ;  much  impressed 
Himself,  as  conscious  of  his  awful  charge, 
And  anxious  mainly  that  the  flock  he  feeds 
May  feel  it  too ;  affectionate  in  look, 
And  tender  in  address,  as  well  becomes 
A  messenger  of  grace  to  guilty  men." 

r 


6  THE    UNIQUE. 

Probably  the  only  thing  in  his  preaching  that 
might  be  objectionable  to  some  of  our  own 
time  was,  that  a  large  portion  of  his  sermons 
were  of  a  doctrinal  character  ;  not  dry  doctrinal 
discussions  ;  but  doctrine  so  judiciously  blend- 
ed with  precept  and  practical  teaching,  that  it 
seldom  failed  to  instruct  and  edify  his  hearers, 
whether  such  would  be  its  effect  upon  some  of 
the  present  day,  or  not. 

As  he  was  very  methodical  in  all  his  ar- 
rangements, and  kept  a  diary,  an  account  of 
his  preaching,  baptisms,  marriages,  funerals, 
expenditures,  &c.,  we  are  able  to  give  some 
details,  which  will  show,  to  some  extent  at 
least,  the  labors  and  usefulness  of  this  venera- 
ble Christian  minister. 

, 

He  preached  in  his  own  meeting-house  4073  times. 
In  school-houses  in  his  own  parish  2304  " 

In  private  houses  in  his  own  parish  1211      " 

In  other  towns,  on  all  occasions  1097      " 

8685 

He  baptized  among  his  own  people  and  in 
other  places  during  his  ministry,  1503  individ- 
uals. He  married  1347  couples,  and  attended 
1918  funerals.  The  church  numbered  91 
when  he  was  settled,  and  279  when  he  died. 


REV.    MR.    BLUEVILLE  S    MINISTRY.  7 

Any  one  considering  further  the  prayer  and 
conference  and  church  meetings  he  must  have 
attended,  ministers'  meetings,  associational  and 
other  meetings  abroad,  ordinations,  installa- 
tions, dedications,  &c.,  in  which  he  must  have 
participated,  pastoral  visitation,  parochial  calls, 
time  occupied  in  study,  and  the  cares  and  du- 
ties necessarily  attendant  upon  a  large  family — 
any  one,  we  say,  considering  all  these  things, 
will  see  that  his  long  life  must  have  been  dili- 
gently occupied  in  the  sphere  in  which  Provi- 
dence had  placed  him.  It  is  proper  here  to 
remark,  that  there  were  eleven  seasons  of 
special  out-pourings  of  the  Spirit  under  his  la- 
bors,— eleven  glorious  revivals,  when  great 
numbers  were  converted  to  God,  and  when, 
consequently,  his  cares  and  anxieties  were 
greatly  increased. 

The  salary  that  this  useful  minister  of  Jesus 
received,  was  at  first  $300  a  year ;  and  it  was 
increased  from  time  to  time  by  the  choice  of 
his  people,  till  it  amounted  to  $500.  It 
averaged  during  the  47  years,  $425,  which 
amounted  to  $19,975 

Marriage  fees,  2,428 

$22,403 


8  THE    UNIQUE. 

This  $22,403,  with  money  presented,  and 
small  sums  obtained  for  occasional  services  in 
other  places,  which  in  all  might  have  amounted 
to  $1000  more,  with  discreet  and  commenda- 
ble economy  comfortably  maintained  his  family, 
and  enabled  him  to  bring  up  his  children  in  a 
manner  alike  honorable  to  his  good  sense  and 
piety.  In  this  connexion,  however,  we 
should  add  that  his  kind  people  presented  him 
with  clothing,  fuel,  vegetables,  hay,  and  other 
useful  articles,  to  the  value  of,  as  near  as  he 
could  judge,  $75  or  $80  a  year.  Being  af- 
fectionately attached  to  him  and  /us,  they  took 
delight  in  bringing  their  free-will  offerings  to 
his  house. 

Such  were  his  resources  ;  and  with  a  gene- 
rous heart,  his  hand  was  ever  open  to  supply 
the  wants  of  the  needy  and  the  suffering :  he 
was  also  a  liberal  donor  to  the  different  benev- 
olent societies  of  his  day.  He  educated  two 
of  his  sons,  who  as  scholars  ranked  high  in  the 
university.  One  of  them  is  now  a  minister  of 
the  gospel  in  a  neighboring  state,  and  the  other 
is  an  eminent  physician,  with  a  large  and  suc- 
cessful practice,  in  one  of  our  Atlantic  cities. 
The  two  sons  referred  to  at  the  commence- 


REV.  MR.  BLUEVILLE'S  MINISTRY.         9 

ment  of  this  narrative,  were  pursuing  their 
studies  in  an  academy,  preparatory  for  college, 
at  the  time  of  their  father's  decease. 

As  he  never  felt  that  he  needed  more  salary 
than  his  people  of  their  own  accord  cheerfully 
paid  him,  he  never  asked  for  more ;  and  al- 
though he  had  repeated  calls  from  other 
churches,  where  larger  sums  were  offered,  he 
promptly  declined  them  all.  Once  receiving 
a  call  from  a  city  church,  which  tendered  him 
what  in  those  days  seemed  an  exorbitant  salary, 
and  in  which  many  inducements  were  men- 
tioned for  him  to  leave  the  country,  and  take 
the  oversight  of  the  large  church  in  the  city, 
some  of  his  members  expressed  strong  fears 
that  he  would  accept  the  invitation.  However, 
they  had  not  as  yet  learned  what  was  his  spirit 
and  character ;  and  he  settled  the  matter  on 
the  following  Sabbath  to  their  entire  satisfac- 
tion. After  mentioning  the  call,  and  the  va- 
rious reasons  urged  therein  for  his  acceptance 
of  the  same,  he  said,  "Brethren,  I  shall  not 
leave  you  as  long  as  you  will  keep  me ;  for 
here  I  wish  to  live,  here  I  wish  to  die,  and 
here  I  wish  to  be  buried."  Many  were  so 
much  affected  that  they  could  not  refrain  from 


10  THE    UNIQUE. 

tears  of  joy  ;  being  so  suddenly  and  so  agreea- 
bly relieved  from  their  burden  of  anxiety, 
by  this  affectionate  and  decisive  declaration. 
Though  beloved  before,  this  seemed  to  en- 
dear him  still  more  to  his  people. 

Neither  greater  emoluments,  nor  a  field 
more  inviting  to  a  minister  desiring  popularity, 
could  shake  his  resolution  to  remain  with  his 
first  and  only  charge.  In  some  of  the  places 
to  which  he  was  strongly  solicited,  his  talents 
undoubtedly  would  have  gained  him  more  re- 
nown, but  he  was  satisfied  with  the  honor  that 
he  did  receive,  and  neither  sought  nor  cared 
for  greater. 

"  Remote  from  towns  he  ran  his  godly  race, 
Nor  e'er  had  changed  nor  wished  to  change  his 
place." 

One  of  our  oldest  colleges  conferred  upon  him 
the  degree  of  D.  D.,  but  he  meekly  declined 
it,  deeming  it  unadvisable  to  make  distinctions 
among  ministering  brethren,  and  saying,  "that 
after  all  the  palliating  reasons  urged  in  defence, 
it  was  nothing  more  nor  less  than  being  called 
Rabbi,  which  the  Saviour  commands  his  min- 
isters never  to  be  called." 


x    REV.  MR.  BLUEVILLE'S  MINISTRY.        11 

But  his  race  is  run.  He  has  fought  the 
good  fight,  and  has  finished  his  work  on  the 
earth.  Vigorous  and  active,  though  upwards 
of  threescore  and  ten,  "his  eye  not  being 
dim,  nor  his  natural  force  abated,"  he  was  sud- 
denly cut  down  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness. 
After  faithfully  preaching  the  precious  truths 
of  the  gospel  on  a  Sabbath  morning  from  the 
words,  "For  me  to  live  is  Christ,  and  to  die 
is  gain,"  and  expatiating  upon  the  Christian's 
blissful  inheritance  with  unusual  fervor  and  an- 
imation, little  realizing  how  soon  he  should  be 
a  partaker  of  that  inheritance,  he  was  violently 
seized  with  an  alarming  disorder ;  and  as  the 
sun  of  the  succeeding  day  was  serenely  going 
down  beneath  the  western  horizon,  he  sweetly 
fell  asleep  in  Jesus,  and  was  borne  to  his 
home  in  heaven.  The  grass  has  now  grown 
over  his  grave.  The  marble  erected  by  his 
congregation  (for  they  would  erect  it,  and  all 
were  so  desirous  of  doing  something  towards 
it  that  no  one  was  allowed  to  pay  but  a  trifle) 
points  out  his  grave  from  the  others.  And 
be  it  remembered  he  went  down  to  that  "grave 
in  a  full  age,  like  as  a  shock  of  corn  cometh 
in  in  his  season" — honored  by  all — and  his 


12  THE    UNIQUE. 

memory  deeply  enshrined  in  the  hearts  of  his 
people. 

Oh  who  does  not  wish,  when  we  contem- 
plate such  ministers  and  churches,  that  minis- 
ters and  people  now  would  love  each  other 
more — would  live  together  and  labor  together 
till  death  dissolves  the  union— instead  of  the 
exciting,  turbulent,  ever-shifting  scenes  that  in 
this  day  are  so  painfully  frequent  in  Zion. 


REV.    PAUL    H.    CLARENDON.  13 


CHAPTER  It 

REV.  PAUL  H.  CLARENDON. 

Rev.  Mr.  Clarendon  was  settled  in  a  large 
manufacturing  town  of  New  England,  in  1835, 
over  the  Orthodox  Congregationalist  church, 
which  at  that  time  numbered  237  members. 
He  was  pleased  with  his  people,  and  they 
were  apparently  satisfied  with  their  minister. 
The  congregation,  which  had  considerably 
dwindled  at  the  time  of  Mr.  Clarendon's  set- 
tlement, in  consequence,  to  some  extent 
doubtless,  of  the  church  being  destitute  of  a 
pastor  for  nearly  a  year,  began  to  increase 
under  his  ministrations,  and  has  continued  on 
the  increase  up  to  the  present  time ;  and  now 
their  commodious  house  of  worship  is  rilled 
with  attentive  hearers.  He  has  also  been 
blessed  with  two  delightful  revivals,  and  has 
had  the  satisfaction  of  adding  more  than  100 
to  the  church. 

The  salary  Mr.  Clarendon  at  first  received, 
2 


14  THE 


was  $650  a  year,  which  was  considered  by 
the  majority  of  the  church  quite  a  liberal 
amount  ;  although  they  were  a  wealthy  people, 
and  several  of  them  lived  at  the  rate  of  §2000 
a  year.  They  knew,  however,  that  their 
minister  could  not  possibly  live  more  than  de- 
cently on  this  salary.  By  contriving,  he 
could  go  along  so  as  to  obtain  food  and  clothing 
for  his  family,  and  keep  out  of  debt  ;  and  that 
was  all  he  could  do.  There  were  several 
theological  books  that  he  felt  were  needed 
upon  the  shelves  of  his  library,  but  he  could 
not  purchase  them,  as  his  income  would  not 
allow  it. 

Some  of  his  church  members  were  so-  deeply 
impressed  with  the  belief  that  the  Lord  would 
not  keep  him  humble  unless  they  kept  him 
poor,  that  they  were  very  anxious  that  his  sal- 
ary should  be  reduced.  Accordingly  one  of 
them,  Ira  Jenifer,  moved  in  a  church  meeting 
not  very  fully  attended,  in  the  year  1838, 
"that  the  salary  of  our  pastor  be  reduced  to 
$600."  This  man,  whose  family  was  not  as 
large  as  his  minister's,  and  who  spent  his 
$1300  a  year,  and  yet  thought  he  lived  quite 
economically,  said,  "I  am  really  afraid  our 


REV.    PAUL    H.    CLARENDON.  15 

minister  is  getting  too  rich.  I  think  he  might 
live  on  less  money  with  comfort ;  and  if  he 
cannot,  it  is  because  he  is  too  extravagant." 
This  "consistent  jeiceZ"  of  a  brother  consid- 
ered it  very  proper  that  he  should  keep  two 
fine,  high  spirited  horses,  and  several  kinds  of 
riding  vehicles  which  he  used  but  little ;  but  he 
thought  it  was  highly  improper  for  Mr.  Claren- 
don to  keep  one  poor  old  horse  and  chaise, 
to  visit  his  parishioners  who  lived  in  the  out- 
skirts of  the  town;  "for,"  said  he  in  this 
meeting,  "I  see  no  reason  for  this  unnecessary 
expense,  as  our  minister  is  a  strong,  healthy 
man,  and  is  able  to  walk  for  all  purposes  of 
visiting."  He  also  said,  "I  never  thought  it 
well  to  give  ministers  large  salaries.  The  fact 
is,  human  nature  is  human  nature,*  and  they 
cannot  bear  it.  The  more  money  they  have, 
the  less  faithful  they  are.f  Now  Mr.  Dangley, 

*As  no  one  will  probably  dispute  this  sage  remark, 
those  who  may  desire  a  particular  explication  of 
Ira  Jenifer's  views,  must  go  to  him,  as  the  writer 
does  not  feel  competent  to  explain  for  him. 

f  If  this  rule  is  correct,  and  works  both  ways,  then 
it  follows  that  the  less  money  a  minister  has,  the 


16  THE    UNIQUE. 

in  the  city  of ,  has  $2000,  and  preaches 

twice  a  week ;  our  minister  has  $650,  and 
preaches  three  times  a  week ;  and  if  he  had  but 
$400, 1  suppose  he  would  preach  four  times  a 
week ;  therefore  I  go  for  reducing  the  salary  of 
our  pastor." 

Another  brother  of  very  limited  views  said, 
"I  work  hard  all  the  week,  and  receive  for 
my  labor  only  about  $200  a  year;  and  I  don't 
see  why  our  minister,  who  icorks  only  on  Sun- 
day, should  be  paid  such  a  great  salary." 

Another  one  said, "It  has  been  a  source  of 
vexation  to  me  that  we  have  to  pay  so  much 
to  ministers.  When  I  look  at  our  church, 
and  see  how  many  of  us  have  to  labor  for  our 
bread,  and  how  many  hours  each  day  those  of 
us  work  who  are  in  the  factories,  I  must  say 
it  makes  me  feel  unpleasantly  to  be  compelled 
to  pay  such  a  heavy  salary."  This  man  re- 
ceived $400  a  year,  as  an  overseer  in  the  fac- 
tory, and  paid  five  dollars  a  year  towards  the 
salary ;  while  some  of  the  females  who  worked 

more  faithful  he  will  be ;  consequently  the  only  way 
to  make  a  minister  wholly  consecrated  to  his  work, 
is  to  deprive  him  entirely  of  money. 


REV.    PAUL    H.    CLARENDON.  17 

in  his  room,  and  received  about  three  dollars 
a  week,  paid  $10,  $15,  and  even  $20  towards 
it.  Another  said,  "  I  think  the  salary  is  small 
enough.  Many  ministers  less  worthy  than  our 
devoted  pastor  receive  much  more.  I  would 
with  all  my  heart  vote  to  raise  the  salary  $50 
more,  and  pay  my  part  towards  it ;  but  breth- 
ren, I  feel  that  I  should  act  a  mean  and  con- 
temptible part,  if  I  should  vote  to  reduce  it 
$50."  This  man  was  a  day  laborer,  and  paid 
$8  towards  the  salary.  He  studied  his  Bible 
much,  and  said  "that  taught  him  not  to  'muz- 
zle the  mouth  of  the  ox  when  he  treadeth  out 
the  corn.' ' 

Said  another,  "  I  believe  our  minister  is  a 
man  of  God,  and  labors  for  the  good  of  souls ; 
and  I  have  never  thought  that  we  paid  him  any 
too  much  for  his  labors.  I  cannot  conscien- 
tiously vote  for  a  reduction  of  the  salary." 

However,  the  motion  was  carried  by  a 
small  majority,  and  a  record  made  of  it  upon 
the  books  of  the  church. 

The  next  day  Mrs.  Clarendon  said  to  her 

husband,  "I  think  it  was  too  bad  in  the  church 

passing  that  vote  last  night.     If  I  were  you,  I 

would  resign  at  once ;  I  would  not  stay  with 

2* 


18  THE    UNIQUE. 

such  a  church  ;  that  I  wouldn't."  Mr.  Claren- 
don meekly  replied,  for  he  was  a  very  pious 
and  humble  man,  "My  dear,  I  think  we  had 
better  take  no  notice  of  it  at  all ;  we  can  get 
along  you  know,  for  as  good  Oliver  Heywood 
used  to  say, 

'  When  cruise  and  barrel  both  are  dry, 
We  still  will  trust  in  God  most  high.' " 

Mrs.  Clarendon  was  really  a  good  woman, 
and  gave  abundant  evidence  that  she  loved  the 
Saviour ;  but  she  had  considerable  of  that 
which  some  call  spirit,  and  others  call  spunk ; 
and  she  tartly  answered,  '•'•get  along! — no,  I 
don't  know  that  we  can  get  along-  I'm  sure 
we  have  had  to  set  our  wits  at  work  to  econo- 
mize in  every  possible  way,  to  get  along  on 
what  we  have  had  ;  and  now  it  is  cut  short  $50, 
I  don't  see  how  we  shall  get  along  at  all.  Be- 
sides, you  know  I  told  you  the  other  day  we 
must  have  a  girl  this  summer,  for  sister  and  I 
cannot  do  all  the  work  any  longer.  I  am 
most  dead  now,  and  it  won't  take  long  to  finish 
me  if  I've  got  to  work  at  this  rate." 

"I  guess,"   answered    her    imperturbably 


REV.    PAUL    H.    CLARENDON.  19 

mild  husband,  "the  Lord  will  take  care  of  us. 
I  do  not  feel  much  concerned  about  it." 

"  Concerned!"  retorted  Mrs.  C.,  with  con- 
siderable feeling,  "I  never  saw  any  one  like 
you — concerned!  why,  you  wouldn't  be  con- 
cerned at  anything.  I  don't  believe  you  would 
be  concerned  if  the  house  was  on  fire."  "Oh 
yes  I  should,  my  dear,"  replied  Mr.  C.,  with 
undisturbed  equanimity.  "I  should  at  any 
rate  feel  concerned  to  get  you  and  the  children 
out,  and  also  my  library  ;  for  poor  as  it  is,  I 
cannot  afford  to  lose  it."  "Well,  at  any 
rate,"  said  Mrs.  C.,  "if  I  were  you  I  would 
not  stay  here.  I  wouldn't  be  treated  so 
shamefully.  I  wish  you  had  more  spirit,  and 
would  let  the  people  know  you  were  not  going 
to  be  abused  in  this  manner.  Other  ministers 
wouldn't  bear  it,  and  why  must  you  ?" 

Mr.  Clarendon  in  this  case  did  not  follow 
the  advice  of  his  wife,  although  he  often  did  in 
other  cases.  He  kept  along  in  his  course  just 
as  he  had  done,  working  for  his  Master  with- 
out saying  a  word  about  salary ;  and  the  sequel 
will  show  that  he  lost  nothing,  but  rather 
gained  in  temporal  things,  by  this  vote  of  the 
church.  Several  of  the  more  able  brethren  in 


20  THE    UNIQUE. 

pecuniary  matters  felt  so  aggrieved,  that  they 
made  up  a  purse  for  him  among  themselves, 
of  $135,  and  presented  it  to  him  in  about  three 
weeks  after  the  above  mentioned  vote  was 
carried.  It  seemed  also  providential,  that 
within  a  few  weeks  of  this  time,  a  gentleman 
came  on  from  New  York,  to  take  unto  himself 
his  affianced  wife,  a  daughter  of  one  of  the 
church  members,  to  whom  he  had  been  betrothed 
some  two  years  or  more.  This  gentleman 
was  a  wealthy  merchant ;  and  being  quite  flush 
of  money  just  then,  Mr.  Clarendon  received 
as  his  marriage  fee  a  $50  bill. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  year  1839  the  church 
passed  a  vote  to  increase  the  salary  of  their 
minister  $100;  consequently  since  that  time 
he  has  been  receiving  $700  a  year;  and  Mrs. 
Clarendon  says  that  "now  they  are" getting 
along  very  «/•«//." 


AN    ANTI-SLAVERY    DIALOGUE.  21 


CHAPTER  III. 

AN  ANTI-SLAVERY  DIALOGUE. 

Scene. — A  pastor's  study.  Rev.  Dennis 
Blackenburn  seated  at  his  table,  and  busily  en- 
gaged in  preparing  a  sermon  upon  the  exciting 
topics  of  the  age,  to  preach  in  New  York  city, 
before  the ,  at  the  spring  anniver- 
saries. Enter  Peter  Farrington,  a  man  about 
forty  years  of  age,  who  has  been  a  member  of 
Mr.  Blackenburn's  church  eleven  years. 

F.  Excuse  me  for  interrupting  you,  but  I 
feel  so  much  interested  in  the  subject  we  had 
a  few  words  about  last  evening  at  br.  Smith's, 
that  I  want  to  talk  with  you  further  about  it,  if 
you  can  spare  the  time. 

B.  It  is  true  I  am  somewhat  busy,  but  yet 
I  am  ready  to  hear  what  you  have  to  say. 

F.  I  will  come  then  to  the  point  at  once, 
and  ask  you  a  question  I  have  long  wanted  to 
ask  you  ;  and  that  is,  do  you,  my  dear  pastor, 
conscientiously  think  that  your  course  in  refer- 


22  THE    UNIQUE. 

ence  to  the  anti-slavery  cause  has  been  such 
as  God  can  approve  ? 

B.  Certainly,  certainly  I  do,  or  I  should 
have  taken  a  different  course. 

F.  It  may  be  that  I  am  wrong,  but  for  a 
long  time  I  have  felt  that  you  were  not  acting 
consistently  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  in  re- 
ference to  the  poor,  down-trodden  slave. 

B.  General  assertions,  and  unqualified  re- 
marks, you  know,  prove  nothing,  br.  Farring- 
ton.  Now  if  I  have  erred  in  my  course,  the 
only  way  for  you  to  convince  me  of  my  error 
is,  to  proceed  to  particulars ;  and  in  the  spirit 
of  Christian  kindness  to  point  out  the  ways  in 
which  you  think  I  have  not  acted  consistently 
in  regard  to  this  subject.  My  mind,  I  trust, 
is  open  to  conviction,  and  if  you  can  show  me 
that  I  am  wrong  in  my  course,  I  will  cheer- 
fully and  immediately  alter  it,  and  will  be 
grateful  to  you  for  assisting  me  in  seeing  my 
duty  more  clearly,  and  acting  more  understand- 
ing^- 

jP.  I  admire  the  spirit  you  manifest,  'and 
do  believe  you  wish  to  do  that  which  is  right ; 
and  I  also  feel  that  my  motives  in  seeking  this 
conversation  with  you  are  good  ;  and  therefore, 


AN   ANTI-SLAVERY   DIALOGUE.  23 

according  to  your  desire,  I  will  point  out 
some  ways  in  which  I  think  you  have  not  been 
consistent.  In  the  first  place  then,  it  seems  to 
me  very  inconsistent  in  you  as  a  minister,  to 
refuse  to  preach  plainly  against  that  aggravated 
and  abominable  iniquity,  slavery.  I  believe 
the  Bible  denounces  slavery ;  and  that  it  is  as 
much  the  duty  of  the  watchmen  on  Zion's 
walls  to  warn  the  people  against  this  sin,  as 
any  other. 

B.  Have  I  never  preached  against  slavery  ? 
What  was  the  subject  of  my  discourse  on 
Fast  day  ? 

F.  I  believe  you  did  mention  it  then, 
among  the  other  sins  of  the  nation  ;  but  what  I 
mean  is,  preach  whole  sermons  against  it,  and 
let  the  people  know  that  you  are  a  strong  abo- 
litionist ;  the  same  as  Mr.  Blarney,  ofTrotland, 
does. 

B.  Mention  it  among  other  sins !  Why 
the  greater  portion  of  the  morning's  sermon 
was  about  the  heinousness  of  slavery ;  and  I 
expressed  myself  so  strongly  that  many  of  our 
people,  as  you  are  aware,  thought  I  went  too 
far.  Deacon  Vuel  was  so  offended,  that  he 
said  "if  he  had  known  that  I  was  going  to 


24  THE    UNIQUE. 

meddle  with  the  slavery  question,  he  Would 
have  staid  at  home ;  and  that  if  I  preached  in 
that  manner  again,  he  would  take  his  hat,  and 
leave  the  meeting-house." 

F.  Well,  but  deacon  Vuel  you  know  is  a 
regular  pro-slavery  man,  dyed  in  the  wool. 
He  is  behind  the  age  ;  and  isn't  worth  minding. 
But  why  don't  you  preach  like  Mr.  Blarney  ? 
He  comes  out  i 

B.  Stop  a  moment.  Would  you  have 
me  do  as  he  has  done  ?  Like  him  keep  bring- 
ing the  subject  before  the  people  till  divisions 
arise  in  the  church,  and  a  scene  be  enacted 
here  similar  to  that  which  has  taken  place  in 
Trotland  ? 

"  F.  Perhaps  br.  Blarney  has  been  impru- 
dent, and  sometimes  pressed  his  point  rather 
too  hard ;  but  I  believe  he  is  a  praying  man, 
and  has  the  cause  of  the  poor  slave  deeply  at 
heart.  I  don't  think  I  ever  heard  him  pray 
without  remembering  the  slave  in  his  chains. 

B.  Do  not  fly  off  in  a  tangent  from  the 
question.  You  have  not  answered  me.  Do 
you  want  me  to  pursue  the  same  course  here, 
that  he  has  at  Trotland  ? 


AN    ANTI-SLAVERY   DIALOGUE.  2 

F.  Why  !  I  don't  want  any  trouble  in  the 
church.  I  do  not  desire  you  to  do  exactly  as 
he  has  done,  but  I  do  wish  you  would  preach 
as  heartily  against  slavery  as  he  does. 

B.  Heartily  !  Why  I  arn  sure  I  hate  sla- 
very from  my  heart,  and  when  I  preach 
against  it,  I  preach  with  all  my  heart.  How 
does  Mr.  Blarney  preach  ? 

F.  PREACH  ! ! !  1  wish  you  could  hear 
him  once.  His  eyes  flash  fire  ;  and  his  very 
soul  burns  with  the  wrongs  of  the  poor,  degra- 
ded slaves.  And  the  way  he  denounces 
slave-holders.  I  tell  you  I  should  pity  any 
slaveholder  that  should  happen  to  hear  him. 
He  says  they  are  "  robbers,  murderers,  cut- 
throats, pirates,  licentious  brutes,  incarnate 
DEVILS,  monsters  in  the  shape  of  human  be- 
ings, reeking  with  HUMAN  blood,  and  revelling 
in  the  tears,  and  stripes,  and  groans,  and  wrongs, 
and  miseries  of  the  wretched."  Such  plain 
dealing  you  know  excites  the  people,  and  leads 
them  to  look  into  the  subject  of  slavery. 

B.  Do  you  wish  me  to  call  slaveholders 
such  names  ? 

F.     I  believe  they  deserve  them. 
3 


28  THE   UNtftUE. 

B.  But  do  you  wish  me  to  call  them  so 
in  the  pulpit  ? 

F.     As  long  as  they  deserve  them,  I  do. 

B.  Do  you  think  denouncing  them  in  that 
manner  has  any  tendency  to  lead  them  to  re- 
nounce slavery  ? 

F.  I  cannot  say  as  to  that,  but  whether  it 
would  or  not,  I  think  it  would  awaken  an  in- 
terest among  the  people. 

B.  So  do  I.  I  think  it  would  awaken 
very  much  such  an  interest  as  there  has  been 
at  Trotland.  You  said  you  never  heard  Mr. 
Blarney  pray  without  remembering]  the  slave. 
Do  you  think  it  was  right  for  him  invariably  to 
pray  for  the  slave  ? 

F.  To  be  sure  I  do.  I  shouldn't  think  it 
right  if  he  did  not. 

J5.  Did  you  ever  hear  him  pray  without 
remembering  the  heathen  ? 

F.     Oh  yes  !  many  times. 

B.     Was  that  right  ? 

F,     Was  what  right  ? 

B.  Was  it  right  for  him  to  pray  and  not 
remember  the  wretched,  idolatrous  heathen  ? 

.F.  He  feels  an  interest  for  them.  At  the 
last  concert 


AN    ANTI-SLAVERY    DIALOGUE.  27 

B.  That  is  not  the  point.  Is  it  right  for 
him  to  pray  without  remembering  the  heathen 
nations  ? 

F.  Perhaps  he  thinks  as  some  others  do, 
that  there  are  so  many  who  pray  for  the  hea- 
then, that  it  is  not  necessary  for  him  to  remem- 
ber them  in  every  prayer.  But  he  does  plead 
fervently  for  the  slave  when  he  prays. 

B.  I  see  you  avoid  answering  my  ques- 
tion ;  and  now,  my  brother,  look  at  it.  There 
are  hundreds  of  heathen  to  one  slave  ;  and  how 
is  it  that  you  can  feel  such  a  deep,  all-absorb- 
ing interest  for  our  3,000,000  slaves,  and  feel 
comparatively  so  little  interest  for  hundreds 
of  millions  of  idolaters,  living  in  the  grossest 
spiritual  darkness,  sunken  in  every  vice,  and 
exposed  to  all  that  is  terrific  in  the  wrath  of  an 
offended  God  ?  I  confess  I  cannot  under- 
stand it. 

F.  I  do  feel  for  the  wretched  heathen ; 
but  you  know  there  are  multitudes  to  feel  for 
them,  while  there  are  only  a  few  who  feel  for 
the  slave  in  his  bondage. 

B.  I  do  not  know  that ;  I  wish  all  Chris- 
tians felt  for  both  as  they  ought.  Do  you 
think  I  feel  for  the  slave  ? 


28  THE    UNIQUE. 

F.  Some ;  I  suppose  you  would  like  to 
have  slavery  abolished,  but  you  do  not  take 
that  active  stand  against  it  which  I  think  every 
minister  should. 

B.     What  stand  ought  I  to  take  ? 

jF.  As  I  said  before,  preach  more  point- 
edly against  this  sin — have  an  anti-slavery 
monthly  concert  established  in  the  church,  and 
urge  the  people  to  attend  it. 

B.  Well,  suppose  I  should ;  what  would 
be  the  result  ? 

F.  The  people  would  be  enlightened,  and 
would  feel  and  aci  for  the  slave  ;  an  anti-slavery 
society  would  be  speedily  formed,  and  vigorous 
measures  adopted  to  benefit  the  cause. 

B.     Well,  what  then  ? 

JP.  Why  then — the — the  society  would 
pass  resolutions  against  slavery.  Money  would 
be  freely  given  to  publish  books  and  pamphlets, 
and  to  aid  lecturers  in  going  about  the  country 
to  stir  up  the  people.  I  should  rejoice  to 
have  such  a  society  here,  and  see  my  honored 
pastor  the  president  of  it. 

Here  this  dialogue  was  interrupted ;  and  be- 
fore Mr.  Farrington  had  another  opportunity 
of  calling  upon  his  minister  to  finish  it,  and  to 


AN   ANTI-SLAVERY   DIALOGUE.  29 

show  him  still  further  his  inconsistency,  he 
heard  of  the  death  of  his  only  brother,  who  had 
been  residing  for  several  years  in  Georgia. 
He,  being  sole  heir  to  his  estate,  found  it 
necessary  to  repair  immediately  to  the  south. 
Eight  slaves  were  left  by  that  brother.  Mr. 
Farrington,  after  duly  and  prayerfully  consider- 
ing what  he  should  do  in  reference  to  them, 
came  at  last  to  the  conclusion  that  the  poor 
creatures  were  totally  incapacitated  to  take 
care  of  themselves ;  and  consequently  out  of 
entire  and  generous  charity  towards  THEM, 
It^p-SOLD^OI  them  to  a  Christian  master, 
who  by  inquiries  he  learned  had  always  treated 
his  slaves  with  remarkable  kindness. 

After  his  return  from  Georgia,  he  did  not 
seem  particularly  desirous  of  resuming  the 
conversation  with  his  pastor  upon  the  subject 
of  slavery,  but  rather  appeared  to  avoid  it  wherr 
he  two  or  three  times  incidentally  adverted 
to  it. 

He  was  heard  to  say  "that  he  thought  Mr. 
Blackenburn  a  most  pious  and  excellent  man ; 
and,  upon  the  whole,  one  of  the  most  CON^ 
SISTENT  ministers  of  the  gospel  he  had  ever 
known." 

3» 


30  THE    UNIQUE. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

REV.   THEOPHILUS    MERTON. 

In  July  1837,  an  acquaintance  commenced 
with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Merton,  the  pastor  of  the 
Baptist  church  in  the  populous  and  flourishing 

town  of ,  in  the  state  of  New  York.  He 

had  then  been  settled  two  years  and  seven 
months.  During  the  first  year  he  had  bap- 
tized five ;  in  the  second  year  nine ;  and  in  the 
last  seven  months  twenty-one.  It  was  said 
that  he  was  much  beloved,  both  by  his  church 
and  congregation.  The  truth  or  falsity  of  this 
remark  we  do  not  pretend  to  decide,  but  leave 
each  reader  to  receive  his  own  impression 
from  the  remainder  of  the  narrative. 

The  church  was  quite  large,  consisting  of 
317  members,  comprising  many  classes  and 
kinds  of  people.  The  salary  was  $700  per 
annum,  and  writh  all  his  contriving  and  econo- 
my, it  cost  Mr.  Merton  more  than  $800  to 
support  his  family.  Perhaps  he  was  not  as 


REV.    THEOPHILUS    MERTON.  31 

skillful  in  managing  his  pecuniary  concerns  as 
some  ministers  are ;  but  be  that  as  it  may,  he 
could  not  live  on  his  salary.  The  church 
were  aware  of  this  fact,  and  were  able  if  they 
pleased,  to  pay  three  times  $700,  and  yet  they 
did  not  increase  his  salary. 

Mr.  Merton  was  a  small  man  in  body,  but 
capable  of  considerable  physical  endurance, 
and  always  enjoyed  good  health.  He  was 
about  four  years  on  the  wrong  side  of  thirty  ; 
of  mild  and  pleasing  address ;  in  talents,  above 
mediocrity,  and  of  fair  and  solid  attainments, 
having  passed  through  college  and  the  theo- 
logical seminary  with  much  credit  as  a  scholar. 
He  was  a  godly  man — preached  with  all  his 
heart,  and  labored  hard  in  many  ways  to  do 
good  to  his  church  and  congregation.  He 
was  much  engaged  in  his  work,  but  evidently 
thought  too  much  of  what  the  people  said 
about  him.  He  had  a  peculiar  sort  of  sensitive- 
ness, which  if  a  minister  is  so  unfortunate  as  to 
possess,  he  should  resolutely  strive  to  over- 
come ;  inasmuch  as  to  some  extent  it  stands  in 
the  way  of  his  usefulness.  Mr.  Merton 
seemed  to  forget  that  it  was  impossible  to 
please  all  men,  and  was  sorely  afflicted  if  he 


32  THE    UNIQUE. 

found  that  his  public  ministrations,  or  pastoral 
labors,  did  not  give  entire  satisfaction  to  every 
individual.  So  very  sensitive '  was  he,  that  if 
any  of  his  members  incidentally  observed, 
"Your  sermon  last  Sabbath  morning  was  not 
equal  to  the  one  in  the  afternoon, "or  dropped 
any  similar  remark, — as  he  expressed  himself, 
"It  made  him  nervous  all  day  long." 

A  friend  of  his  says,  "One  time  when  I 
called  upon  him,  I  was  much  amused  at  his 
expense,  seeing  what  a  grievous  trouble  he 
made  out  of  a  mere  nothing.  Said  he,  'I 
preached  last  Sabbath  afternoon  a  sermon  upon 
the  atonement,  which  occupied  fifty  minutes. 
I  had  spent  much  time  upon  it,  and  had  pre- 
pared it  with  great  care.  As  I  was  leaving 
the  meeting-house,  deacon  Woolvane  said  to 
me,  'I  liked  your  sermon,  but  you  did  not  do 
justice  to  your  subject,  because  you  did  not 
take  time  enough.  If  you  had  preached  some 
fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  more,  you  would 
have  done  up  the  matter  finely.'  Now  this 
morning  1  was  at  brother  Shifter's  house ;  and 
in  the  course  of  conversation  he  referred  to 
that  sermon,  and  said,  'I  thought  your  views 
were  just,  and  I  was  pleased  with  your  man- 


REV.    THEOPHILUS    MERTON.  33 

tier  of  treating  that  important  doctrine  ;  but  you 
preached  too  long  to  interest.  I  tell  you 
what,  brother  Merton,  ministers  make  a  mis- 
take when  they  preach  over  forty  minutes. 
They  had  better  fall  below  than  go  beyond 
forty  minutes.' ' 

'Now,'  said  he,  with  quite  a  mournful 
cast  of  countenance,  and  for  the  life  of  me  I 
could  not  help  laughing  as  I  looked  upon  it, 
4  what  shall  a  poor  fellow  do,  when  he  prepares 
an  occasional  sermon  with  elaborate  care, 
hoping  to  benefit  and  satisfy  his  people,  and 
finds  that  one  thinks  it  too  long,  and  another 
too  short  ? — but  what  are  you  laughing  at  ?' 
Why  1  cannot  help  laughing,  said  I,  to  see 
what  a  sorrowful  look  you  put  on,  and  what  a 
grievous  affair  your  sensitiveness  leads  you  to 
imagine  this  is.  Do  you  suppose  that  all  your 
sermons  will  please  every  hearer?  If  you  do, 
you  will  find  yourself  amazingly  mistaken,  I 
assure  you.  The  only  way  to  get  along  com- 
fortably is,  to  preach  the  truth  as  plainly  and 
forcibly  as  you  can,  and  take  no  notice  of  any 
such  remarks  people  may  make  about  your 
discourses.  As  to  pleasing  all,  if  you  under- 
take to  do  it  you  will  find  yourself  in  the  same 


34  THE    UNIQUE. 

predicament  with  the  poor  man  in  the  fable 
who  tried  to  please  all ;  sometimes  riding  on 
his  ass,  then  letting  his  son  ride,  then  both 
riding  at  once,  and  then  again,  neither  riding ; 
but  whichever  way  it  was,  some  would  find 
fault.  You  will  be  compelled  also  to  come  to 
the  same  conclusion  with  this  man — that  is,  do 
what  you  think  is  best,  let  the  people  say  what 
they  please. 

Now  is  not  that  right  ?  Is  not  that  the 
best  way  for  you  to  do  ?  '  Why  yes,'  said  he, 
'I  suppose  it  is,  but  my  sensitiveness,  as  you 
call  it,  is  so  great,  that  in  spile  of  all  that  I  can 
do,  these  sort  of  things  do  plague  me.* 
Here  our  conversation  was  ended  by  a  person 
calling  to  request  Mr.  Merton  to  go  immedi- 
ately to  see  one  of  his  parishioners,  who  had 
met  with  a  dangerous  accident,  and  was  not 
expected  to  live. 

Poor  Mr.  Merton !  his  sensitiveness  was 
indeed  distressingly  acute,  and  was  soon  the 
means  of  his  leaving.  How  this  happened 
may  be  gathered  from  the  following  extract  of 
a  letter  which  we  received  from  him  soon  after 
his  resignation. 

"  The   expenses  of  living  being  very  high 


REV.    THEOPHILUS    MERTON.  35 

in ,  and  receiving  nothing  but   my  salary 

and  some  $30  or  $40  a  year  from  marriages,  the 
people  not  being  in  the  habit  of  making  pres- 
ents to  their  minister,  I  found  that  each  year  I 
was  running  in  debt  some  $GO  or  $70.  None 
of  my  own  relatives  being  able  to  help  me, 
my  father  having  done  all  he  possibly  could  do 
in  assisting  me  to  obtain  my  education,  I  was 
exceedingly  distressed,  and  knew  not  what  to 
do.  I  consulted  with  a  ministering  brother, 
who  advised  me  lo  make  known  my  case  to 
the  church.  I  told  him  many  of  the  members 
already  knew  about  my  affairs.  He  said  that 
was  not  the  thing  ;  and  that  I  ought  to  make  a 
fair  and  open  statement  at  some  full  meeting 
of  the  church. 

"After  thinking  the  matter  over  a  few  days, 
and  in  fact  nights  too,  for  it  worried  me  so 
much  I  could  sleep  but  little,  I  concluded  to 
follow  his  advice.  Accordingly,  at  our  next 
monthly  church  meeting  I  candidly  stated  just 
how  I  was  situated,  and  then  left  the  vestry. 
The  next  day  deacon  Woolvane  called,  and 
informed  me  that  the  church  had  voted  to 
raise  my  salary  to  £800.  This,  of  course, 
considerably  relieved  my  mind,  especially  as 


36  THE    UNIQUE, 

deacon  W.  was  very  kind,  and  expressed 
himself  as  highly  gratified  with  the  way  in  which 
I  had  stated  my  circumstances  before  the 
church.  But  the  trial  was  to  come.  I  soon 
found  that  all  the  members  were  not  like  dea- 
con W.  I  heard  of  many  complaints.  One 
said,  'I  shouldn't  have  thought  our  minister 
would  have  hinted  for  an  increase  of  salary.' 
Another  said,  'Mr.  Merton  is  too  extrava- 
gant.'' A  third  said,  'his  wife  need  not  dress 
so  expensively.'  A  fourth,  'he  might  live  in  a 
smaller  house.'  A  fifth,  'it  don't  cost  me 
anything  like  $700  to  support  my  family,  and 
it  is  larger  than  his.'  And  thus  one  said  one 
thing,  and  another  another,  till  I  was  so  fretted 
and  nervous  I  was  almost  afraid  I  should  lose 
my  senses.  Oh,  how  heartily  did  I  wish  I 
had  never  opened  my  mouth  about  my  pecu- 
niary embarrassments.  I  talked  with  deacon 
Woolvane  about  the  matter,  and  he  told  me 
not  to  mind  anything  that  was  said — to  just 
let  it  alone,  and  it  would  all  soon  blow  over. 
I  tried  to  follow  his  advice,  but  I  could  not. 
I  summoned  all  my  philosophy  to  my  aid,  and 
determined  that  I  would  not  let  such  trifling 
matters  harrass  me.  I  denounced  myself  as 


REV.    THEOPHILUS    MERTON.  37 

Joolish  and  weak  for  thinking  and  caring  so 
much  for  them.  But  it  was  in  vain — all  would 
not  avail,  and  I  found  no  peace  till  my  con- 
nexion with  the  church  was  dissolved." 

Mr.  Merton  is  now  the  pastor  of  the  church 

in  the  wealthy  farming  town  of  P ,  where 

his  ministry  is  much  blessed  ;  ihe  fruits  of  it 
already  having  been  seen  in  a  precious  revival. 
He  has  had  the  pleasure  of  baptizing  forty- 
seven  converts,  and  of  seeing  many  backsliders 
return  to  their  Father's  house.  His  salary  is 
$600,  which,  with  numerous  presents,  (such 
as  wealthy  farmers  of  generous  hearts  often 
give,)  affords  him  a  comfortable  maintenance  ; 
as  the  expenses  of  living  are  much  less  than 

in .     He  has  not  entirely  overcome  his 

SENSITIVENESS  yet;  but  says  he  "don't  care 
half  as  much  as  he  used  to,  what  people  say 
about  him." 

It  is  due  to  the  church  in ,  to   say  that 

they  raised  by  subscription  a  sum  of  money 
sufficient  to  liquidate  the  debts  of  Mr.  Merton, 
so  that  he  left  the  place  unembarrassed.  They 
have  now  settled  the  gifted  Rev.  Charles 
Melville,  and  find  no  difficulty  whatever  in 
paying  him  a  salary  of  $900, 
4 


THE    UNIQUE, 

CHAPTER  V. 

A  BURLESQUE  LETTER. 

Mr.  Daniel  Berkland  was  a  Christian  gen- 
tleman of  the  legal  profession,  and  was  one  of 
the  best  hearted  men  in  the  world.  He  was 
somewhat  eminent  as  a  lawyer,  and  had  an  ex- 
tensive practice.  His  clients,  as  a  general 
thing,  were  a  very  honest  class  of  men,  be- 
cause it  was  understood  throughout  the  region, 
that  Squire  Berkland  resorted  to  no  chicanery, 
never  took  advantage  of  his  clients  by  prolong- 
ing their  cases,  or  making  them  unnecessary 
trouble  and  expense ;  but  always  advised  them 
to  let  the  law  alone,  when  they  could  in  any 
practicable  manner  adjust  their  difficulties  with- 
out it ;  for  strange  as  it  may  seem  to  some — 

"  There  are  who,  living  by  the  legal  pen, 
Are  held  in  honor — honorable  men  ; 
Men  who  would  starve,  ere  meanly  deign  to  live 
On  what  deception  and  chicanery  give." 

Squire  Berkland  was  known,  in  repeated  in- 
stances, to  interpose  so  successfully  between 


A    BURLESQUE    LETTER.  39 

contending  parties,  as  to  lead  them  to  a  happy 
and  amicable  settlement ;  so  that  instead  of 
going  to  law,  they  actually  became  strong 
friends  through  his  kind  and  Christian-like  me- 
diation ;  when  by  fanning  the  flame  a  little,  he 
might  have  carried  the  cases  through  many 
cents,  and  put  handsome  fees  into  his  pocket. 

Such  being  his  character,  it  cannot  be  won- 
dered at,  that  good  men,  forced  into  the  law, 
would  naturally  apply  to  him. 

Squire  Berkland  had  formed  a  very  strong . 
attachment  to  his  pastor  as  a  man,  and  highly 
respected  him  as  his  spiritual  guide  and  coun- 
sellor. His  pastor  warmly  reciprocated  his 
friendship,  and  greatly  esteemed  him  as  an 
active  and  devoted  Christian.  He  often  used 
to  say  to  his  wife,  "I  wish  we  had  more  of 
such  straight-forward  Christians  in  the  world 
as  Squire  Berkland." 

The  Squire  was  afflicted  in  all  his  pastor's 
afflictions.  He  could  not  bear  to  see  him  in 
the  least  troubled,  or  depressed  in  spirit;  and 
whenever  he  found  him  in  this  condition, 
would  be  contriving  something  to  cheer  him 
up ;  and  having  a  curious  vein  of  humor,  he 
almost  always  succeeded.  One  time  calling 


40  THE    UNIQUE. 

at  his  house,  he  found  him  quite  dejected,  be- 
cause complaints  were  rife  in  the  parish  that  he 
did  not  visit  enough.  Many  of  the  people 
murmured  loudly,  and  some  with  considerable 
acrimony ;  although  the  fact  was,  the  good 
man  visited  as  much  as  he  could,  consistently 
with  attending  to  his  other  duties.  After  the 
Squire  went  to  his  office,  the  thought  struck 
him  that  he  would  write  his  minister  an  amu- 
sing letter ;  hoping  thereby  to  give  a  turn  to 
his  feelings,  and  lead  him  to  see  that  it  was 
not  wise  to  trouble  himself  with  unreasonable 
complainers.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the 
letter,  which  he  wrote  immediately,  and  sent 
to  his  pastor's  house  in  the  evening. 

M ,  March  19,  18 — . 

Rev.  and  Dear  Sir: — I  am  sorry  to  write 
you  such  a  letter  as  my  duty  imperatively  de- 
mands, because  I  am  aware  that  of  all  classes 
of  men,  ministers  are  the  last  that  are  willing 
to  take  any  sort  of  advice.  Devoutly  hoping, 
however,  that  you  may  prove  an  exception  to 
your  profession  in  this  respect,  I  reluctantly 
gird  up  my  loins  to  my  onerous  duty.  There 
is  a  very  great  complaint  in  the  parish  on  the 


A    BURLESQUE    LETTER.  41 

score  of  visiting ;  and  really  sir,  unless  there 
can  be  a  change  on  your  part  in  this  respect, 
the  sooner  you  pull  up  your  stakes  and  go, 
the  better  it  will  be,  both  for  you  and  the  peo- 
ple. I  candidly  acknowledge  that  I  am  my- 
self one  of  the  complainers,  and  I  believe 
your  good  sense  will  at  once  lead  you  to  see 
the  reasonableness  of  my  course,  when  I  in- 
form you  that  you  have  not  darkened  the  door 
of  my  dwelling,  since  three  weeks  ago  yester- 
day. Only  think  of  that — more  than  three 
weeks  have  passed  and  gone,  and  you,  our 
pastor,  our  guide  to  heaven,  our  minister, 
whom  we  hire  expressly  to  teach  us  the  way 
of  life,  have  not  called  even  once  to  give  us 
the  word  of  advice  and  counsel.  Verily  you 
cannot  think  it  strange  that  we  are  dissatisfied, 
and  feel  that  unless  you  can  alter  your  course, 
we  must  have  another  and  a  better  minister. 

Now  sir,  I  will  inform  you  what  I  shall  re- 
quire of  you,  if  you  remain  among  us.  I  shall 
expect  you  without  fail  to  visit  my  house  once 
a  week,  and  spend  one  hour  in  personal,  re- 
ligious conversation  and  prayer  with  the  mem- 
bers of  my  family.  1  cannot  put  up  with 
anything  short  of  this.  Now  I  have  reckoned 
4* 


42  THE    UNIQUE. 

up  all  the  houses  in  the  parish  at  which  you 
are  expected  to  call,  that  is,  houses  in  which 
families  and  portions  of  families  live  who  attend 
our  meeting,;  and  I  find  them  to  be  153.  At 
each  of  these  houses,  of  course,  it  is  your  dirty 
to  visit,  and  as  it  would  be  partial  and  im- 
proper in  you  to  call  at  my  house  oftener  than 
you  do  at  the  others,  or  remain  there  longer, 
it  follows  that  at  each  of  the  153  houses  you 
must  call  once  a  week,  and  remain  one  hour : 
that  is,  you  must  visit  153  hours  each  week, 
(not  including  the  time  going  and  coming) 
which,  as  you  may  readily  perceive,  is  a  frac- 
tion less  than  twenty-two  hours  each  day. 

You  may  say,  it  is  unreasonable  to  require 
such  an  amount  of  visiting;  but  be  it  so  or  be 
it  not  so,  we  can  get  along  with  nothing  less. 
You  may  possibly  object  to  it,  on  the  ground 
that  it  does  not  leave  you  time  sufficient  to  at- 
tend to  other  important  and  necessary  duties. 
I  have  made  the  following  calculation  of  the 
hours  you  will  probably  need  each  day  for 
other  things,  and  when  they  are  all  added  to- 
gether with  the  twenty-two  above,  you  can 
judge  whether  you  can  or  cannot  make  so  many 
hpurs  put  pf  each  day. 


A    BURLESQUE    LETTER.  43 

We  shall  cheerfully  say  that  you  need  six  hours 
for  sleep.  We  are  willing  that  you  should 
have  three  meals  a  day,  and  as  twenty  minutes 
are  sufficient  for  each,  we  set  down  to  the  ac- 
count of  eating,  one  hour.  We  shall  expect 
you  to  preach  four  times  every  week ;  three 
on  the  Sabbath,  and  on  Wednesday  evening ; 
and  four  hours  each  day  we  deem  an  ample 
allowance  for  the  preparation  of  the  four  ser- 
mons. Then  for  attendance  upon  marriages, 
funerals,  ordinations,  dedications,  ministers' 
meetings,  anniversaries,  &c.,  including  time 
occupied  in  travelling  to  and  from  the  places, 
say  three  hours.  For  attending  to  household 
duties,  children,  &c.,  three  and  a  half  hours. 
In  preaching,  attending  prayer  and  church 
meetings, — time  occupied  in  travelling  to  visit, 
and  reading,  say  at  the  rate  of  four  hours. 
Waiting  upon  company,  and  other  incidentals, 
one  hour;  in  all  forty-four  and  a  half  hours. 

This,  I  have  no  doubt,  the  church  will  con- 
sider a  very  judicious  and  agreeable  division 
of  your  time.  You  may  say  you  do  not  see 
how  you  can  make  forty-four  and  a  half  hours 
out  of  twenty-four  ;  but  that,  you  must  remem- 
ber, will  not  be  absolutely  necessary,  provided 


44  THE    UNIQUE. 

you  can  abridge  the  time  in  any  of  the  particu- 
lars except  visiting.  It  may  be  that  you  can 
get  along  comfortably  with  five  hours  sleep ; 
Buonaparte  took  but  four.  Perhaps  you  can 
manage  to  lop  off  a  half  hour  here  and  there 
of  the  other  items  ;  but  you  may  rest  assured 
that  the  people  will  be  satisfied  with  nothing 
less  than  twenty-two  hours  of  daily  visiting. 
I  am  confident  on  this  point.  I  speak,  too, 
with  some  authority  about  the  matter ;  or  at 
least,  I  may  say  advisedly,  for  I  have  consulted 
with  the  leading  brethren,  and  they  are  fully 
decided  that  nothing  less  than  the  twenty-two 
hours  of  visiting  each  day  will  stop  the  com- 
plaints, and  be  satisfactory  to  the  people. 
We  are  to  have  a  special  meeting  of  the 
church  next  week,  to  act  in  reference  to  this 
matter.  If  you  can  come  to  your  decision  by 
that  time,  we  should  be  happy  to  have  you 
present.  If  you  decide  that  you  can  gratify 
our  wishes  in  regard  to  visiting,  we  shall  re- 
joice to  have  you  remain  as  our  pastor ;  and 
we  shall  not  only  pay  you  the  ample  salary  we 
have,  but  cheerfully  raise  it  $100  per  year. 
If,  after  duly  considering  the  subject,  how- 
eve  ,  you  come  to  the  conclusion  that  you 


A    BURLESQUE    LETTER  45 

cannot  comply  with  our  desires,  unpleasant 
as  the  alternative  is,  and  highly  as  we  esteem 
and  love  you,  we  shall  be  compelled  to  re- 
quest you  to  ask  for  your  dismission. 

I  am,  Rev.  Sir,  with  great  respect,  your 
complaining  parishioner, 

Tl.MOTHV  QUIMULHORN. 

This  letter  did  not  fail  of  its  intended  effect. 
The  good  man  easily  guessed  from  whom  it 
came ;  and  the  next  time  he  met  the  lawyer, 
he  laughingly  said,  "You  complaining  parish- 
ioners may  grumble  till  you  are  tired — I  have 
something  of  more  importance  to  attend  to 
than  to  worry  myself  about  you."  "Ah!" 
said  the  Squire,  shaking  his  head,  and  putting 
on  a  sort  of  comical  look,  "if  you  don't 
VISIT  us  more,  you'll  get  your  walking 
ticket  at  the  next  church  meeting." 


46  THE    UNIQUE. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

HENRY  GREEDY. 

"  But  man  thou  seem'st;  clear  therefore  from  thy  breast 
This  lust  of  money — folly  at  the  best!" 

Henry  Greedy  was  a  farmer ;  he  was  the 
son  of  a  farmer ;  and  his  father  was  the  son  of 
a  farmer.  He  lived  in  the  same  house,  re- 
pain  in  spots  it  is  true,  which  his  grandfather 
and  .  ther  had  successively  occupied  before 
him.  He  was  in  circumstances  that  farmers 
in  New  England  generally  call  "forehanded;" 
that  is,  the  farm  which  he  owned,  lying  upon 

the  rich  banks  of  the  beautiful  river  of , 

in  the  northern  part  of  Massachusetts,  was 
worth  some  $3,500,  and  comfortably  support- 
ed his  family,  which  consisted  of  himself,  wife, 
and  four  children. 

He  was  much  respected,  in  a  certain  way, 
by  his  neighbors,  notwithstanding  they  most 
fully  believed  that  there  was  a  curious  and 
harmonious  similarity  between  his  name  and 


HENRY   GREEDY.  47 

his  disposition.  Whether  any  such  idea  was 
imbibed  from  the  fact  well  established  in  the 
neighborhood,  that  not  a  day  passed  away  in 
which  Mr.  Greedy  did  not  impress  upon  the 
minds  of  his  children  the  sensible  maxim, 
"Take  care  of  the  pence,  and  the  pounds  will 
take  care  of  themselves,"  or  from  the  circum- 
stance that  he  had  repeatedly  been  heard  to 
say  with  great  emphasis,  "that  it  was  wrong 
for  a  certain  storekeeper  in  a  village  hard  by, 
always  to  take  the  half  cent  in  his  dealings," 
or  from  other  facts  and  circumstances,  it  be- 
hoveth  not  the  deponents  to  say.  One  thing, 
however,  no  one  had  any  doubt  about ;  and 
that  was  this,  that  Mr.  Greedy  was  a  remark- 
ably careful  man  about  all  his  expenditures. 
He  used  to  boast  that  he  never  spent  money 
uselessly  ;  but  his  neighbors  thought  he  some- 
times lost  money  when  there  was  no  occasion  to 
lose  it.  He  used  to  trade  much  in  cattle,  and 
generally  wintered  a  large  stock ;  and  scarcely 
a  winter  passed  but  that  more  or  less  of  them 
died.  Now  his  neighbors  thousht  that  as  their 

o  »_- 

cattle  did  not  die,  there  was  no  particular 
necessity  for  his  cattle  to  die ;  and  it  was  their 
unanimous  opinion,  that  if  he  had  given  them 


48  THE    UNIQUE. 

more  fodder,  they  would  have  weathered  the 
season  as  well  as  their  own.  One  individual 
declared  "that  Mr.  Greedy 's  cattle  were  so 
hungry,  that  they  broke  into  his  land,  and 
eat  up  three  cords  of  newly  cut  spruce  and 
hemlock  wood,  with  the  exception  of  one  very 
knotty  log,  which  was  so  hard  that  they  could 
not  eat  it,  and  so  tough  that  he  could  not  split 
it."  His  man  called  upon  the  minister,  and 
desired  him  to  have  Mr.  Greedy  "churched," 
as  he  called  it,  that  is,  disciplined  by  the 
church,  because  he  refused  to  pay  for  the 
wood. 

Whether  Mr.  Greedy  spent  money  care- 
lessly or  not,  it  was  very  evident  that  he  did 
not  give  money  away  carelessly,  for  whatever 
application  might  be  made  to  him,  he  refused 
to  give.  Justice,  however,  demands  that  it 
be  acknowledged  that  he  always  had  his  reasons 
for  not  giving,  and  was  not  at  all  reluctant  to 
state  them.  If  applied  to  to  assist  a  poor 
man,  he  would  say  "he  could  not  conscien- 
tiously give  to  the  poor  because  it  made  them 
lazy."  He  thought  all  Christians  ought  to  re- 
frain, on  principle,  from  giving  to  the  poor, 
"for,"  said  he,  "if  they  can  live  on  charity 
they  will  not  work." 


HKXRY    GREEDY.  49 

If  requested  to  aid  a  needy  and  suffering 
sick  person,  he  would  say,  "when  people  are 
sick  they  do  not  need  much,  and  that  it  was  a 
mistaken  kindness  to  beg  money  and  buy  little 
luxuries  for  them,  as  they  made  them  worse." 
And  then  he  would  tell  what  a  doctor  once 
told  him,  which  was,  "that  ascertain  poor 
patient  of  his  was  happily  recovering  from  a 
dangerous  fever,  when  some  persons  with  mis- 
guided good  intentions,  brought  her  some 
oranges  and  figs,  which  she  eat,  and  was 
thrown  back  again  into  the  fever,  and  died." 
If  an  agent  of  any  society  applied  to  him,  he 
invariably  refused  to  give,  on  the  ground 
"that  it  cost  so  much  to  support  agents." 
Thus  he  always  had  his  reasons  for  not  giving. 

It  is  said  of  Peter  the  Great,  that  when  any 
individual  told  him  of  the  faults  of  another, 
he  would  say,  "Is  there  not  a  fair  side  also 
to  the  character  of  the  person  of  whom  you 
are  speaking  ?  Come,  tell  me  his  good  quali- 
ties." So  now,  we  will  mention  some  good 
things  about  Mr.  Greedy.  He  was  very 
good  to  encourage  his  minister,  by  always 
being  at  meeting  on  the  Sabbath,  unless  pre- 
vented by  sickness.  Neither  rain,  nor  snow, 
5 


60  THE   UNIQUE, 

nor  cold,  nor  heat,  nor  bad  roads  kept  him 
from  the  sanctuary,  although  his  house  was 
more  than  two  miles  distant. 

He  was  very  good  in  regularly  attending  the 
weekly  prayer  meeting  in  the  vestry,  and  was 
punctual  at  the  time ;  never  being  ten,  fifteen, 
or  twenty  minutes  behind  the  time,  as  many 
are.  And  he  was  always  ready  to  speak  and 
pray  ;  and  although  some  of  the  members  did 
not  like  to  hear  him,  he  prayed  with  conside-1 
rable  apparent  fervor,  and  exhorted  with  more 
than  ordinary  earnestness.  He  was  generally 
at  the  monthly  church  meeting ;  and  another 
thing  that  is  truly  deserving  of  mention,  he 
was  never  known  to  be  absent  from  a  business 
meeting,  either  of  church  or  society.  This 
last  ought  especially  to  be  remembered  to 
Mr.  Greedy's  credit,  because  it  is  a  lamenta- 
ble fact,  that  many  church  members  seldom  or 
never  attend  the  business  meeting,  and  seem 
to  think  it  a  sufficient  reason  for  not  going,  be" 
cause  it  is  a  business  meeting ;  whereas  no 
church  member  should  ever  neglect  it.  Ano- 
ther good  thing  about  Mr.  Greedy  was  this ; 
that  he  was  always  willing  to  serve  on  any 
committee,  or  perform  any  sort  of  labor  for 


HENRY    GREEDY.  51 

the  church.  He  never  plead  off  with  his 
modest  inability,  like  some  of  our  brethren, 
who  can  talk  long,  and  tell  what  ought  to  be 
done,  and  when  requested  to  take  hold  and 
help  do,  say,  "Excuse  me,  I  think  some  other 
one  can  do  better."  He  was  ready  to  work 
in  any  way  for  the  church,  and  although  rather 
backward  in  paying  his  own  tax,  he  very 
cheerfully  went  about  the  parish  as  collector, 
to  gather  the  taxes  of  others.  Some,  indeed, 
said  he  did  this  "that  he  might  have  a  good 
opportunity  to  talk  with  the  people  about  the 
great  salary  he  considered  the  minister  was 
paid."  We  will,  however,  consider  this  a 
wicked  and  cruel  slander,  and  let  it  pass ;  al- 
though we  must  now  turn  the  picture  over 
again,  and  look  on  the  other  side. 

It  must  be  confessed  that  Mr.  Greedy  was 
squeamishly  sensitive  about  the  salary  in  ques- 
tion. He  said  "he  thought  conscientiously, 
that  his  minister  was  paid  altogether  too  much 
salary ;"  though  the  fact  was,  he  received  only 
$450,  and  had  a  family  of  nine  children  to 
maintain,  the  eldest  of  whom  was  not  seven- 
teen years  of  age.  He  had  several  times  in 
church  meeting  most  unequivocally  advocated 


52  THE    UMQUE. 

the  idea,  that  it  was  exceedingly  pernicious  to 
a  minister  "to  give  him  more  money  than  just 
enough  to  keep  soul  and  body  comfortably  to- 
gether." He  unhesitatingly  remarked,  to  the 
no  small  astonishment  of  his  friends,  "that  he 
firmly  believed  more  ministers  had  been  in- 
jured by  large  salaries  than  in  any  other  way, 
because  it  made  them  vain,  and  spoiled  their 
usefulness." 

To  enforce  this  point  he  once  used  the  fol- 
lowing very  expressive  .and  dignified  illustra- 
tion, before  about  ten  brethren,  who  composed 

a  church  meeting.  "  There  was  Mr.  R ," 

said  he,  "when  he  was  settled  in  N ,  was 

a  very  pleasant  and  fine  man.  I  used  to  like 
to  meet  him,  he  was  so  kind  and  agreeable ; 

but  after  he  went  to  the  city  of ,  and  had 

a  large  salary,  I  once  called  on  him,  and  he 
pretended  he  did  not  know  me  at  first,  but 

when  in  N ,  it  was  always  'Br.  Greedy, 

br.  Greedy.'  His  great  salary  had  puffed 
him  up,  and  he  was  so  big  with  importance, 
that  I  couldn't  have  touched  him  with  a  ten 
foot  pole." 

After  having  fatigued  himself  by  this  exces- 
sive effort  of  intellect  and  eloquence,  Mr. 


HENRY   GREEDY.  53 

Greedy  sat  down,  evidently  highly  delighted 
with  the  tremendous  impression  he  supposed 
he  had  made  upon  the  minds  of  his  brethren. 

All  that  we  have  now  related  of  Mr.  Greedy, 
was  applicable  to  him  ten  years  since.  He  is 
still  living,  and  is  now,  in  some  respects,  an 
altered  man  for  the  better.  The  church  some 
eight  or  nine  years  ago  took  up  his  case,  and 
dealt  with  him  severely  for  his  avarice.  First 
they  suspended  him,  and  then  excluded  him ; 
but  finally  he  was  restored,  and  since  that 
time  he  has  been  more  liberal  than  he  was  be- 
fore. His  giving,  however,  has  not  yet  im- 
poverished him,  nor  has  it  proved  any  serious 
detriment  to  his  estate ;  and  he  still  retains 
enough  of  the  miser's  spirit  to  prevent  his  heirs 
from  fearing  that  such  a  catastrophe  would 
speedily  happen. 

His  children,  with  the  exception  of  the 
youngest,  do  not  live  at  home.  The  eldest  is 
a  married  man,  a  thriving  mechanic  in  Rhode 
Island  ;  the  next  is  the  second  mate  of  a  Liv- 
erpool packet  ship  ;  and  the  third  is  a  clerk  in 

a  dry  goods  store  in  the  city  of  B .  We 

are  inclined  to  think  these  sons  did  not  profit 
much  from  their  father's  oft  repeated  maxim 
5* 


54  THE    UNIQUE. 

already  mentioned,  especially  the  son  of  the 
ocean,  who,  with  a  sailor's  prodigality,  takes 
care  of  neither  pence  nor  pound.  The  daughter 
at  home,  some  intimate,  is  more  like  her  fa- 
ther than  either  of  her  brothers. 

The  sons  very  seldom  visit  the  paternal 
mansion.  The  sailor  does,  more  than  the 
others ;  and  it  has  been  hinted  to  us  that  the 
reason  is,  because  there  is  a  certain  magnet  in 
a  neighboring  house  to  his  father's,  that  exerts 
quite  a  powerful  attraction  upon  him. 

We  hope  Mr.  Greedy 's  sons  are  not  undu- 
tiful.  The  clerk  says  he  is  not.  His  business 
confines  him  rather  closely,  and  he  says,  "I 
do  not  like  to  go  home  on  account  of  the  cat- 
tle ;  because  they  look  so  poor  and  lean  they 
deprive  me  of  all  the  enjoyment  I  otherwise 
might  receive.  Were  it  not  for  that,  I  should 
]ike  very  much  to  spend  a  few  days  at  home, 
as  often  as  I  could  be  spared  from  the  store." 

It  is  due,  however,  to  Mr.  Greedy,  to  say 
that  none  of  his  cattle  have  died  in  the  winter, 
since  he  was  disciplined  by  the  church. 


A    COLLOQUY.  55 


CHAPTER  VII. 

A  COLLOQUY. 

Scene. — Deacon  Stephen  Martin's  store, 
in  the  bustling  village  of ,  in  New  Hamp- 
shire. Present,  br.  Reuben  Jones,  sitting  on 
a  barrel  of  flour,  br.  Jared  L.  Smith,  sitting 
on  the  counter,  br.  George  Orlovv,  standing 
against  the  desk,  and  deacon  Martin  behind  it, 
just  receipting  br.  Orlow's  bill. 

Jones.  Deacon,  don't  you  think  it  strange 
our  minister  preaches  so  much  from  notes, 
when  he  knows  so  many  of  us  are  opposed  to 


'em 


Dea.  Why — y-e-s — 1 — should  think  he 
would  preach  more  without  them,  and  I  have 
told  him  so,  but  he  thinks  he  knows  better 
than  we  do  how  to  preach. 

Smith.  I  have  told  him  the  same  thing, 
and  he  said  to  me  that  he  thought  he  could 
preach  better  to  use  'em  sometimes. 

Jones.  Sometimes  !  he  now  scarcely  ever 
preaches  without  'em. 


56  THE    UNIQUE. 

Dm.  I  think  he  uses  them  more  than  he 
did  when  he  was  first  settled  among  us. 

Jones.  That  he  does !  Why  the  first 
year  he  didn't  use  'em  much.  Once  in  a 
while  he  would  have  a  little  scrap  of  paper, 
but  now  he  uses  'em  every  Sabbath. 

Smith.     I  guess  not  every  Sabbath  ! 

Jones.  Well  I  guess  he  does.  I  don't 
believe  there  has  been  a  Sabbath  for  the  last 
two  months,  but  what  he's  used  'em — do  you, 
deacon  ? 

Dea.  Well  I  can't  say  as  to  that.  I  have 
not  taken  particular  notice  to  see  whether  he 
uses  them  every  Sabbath  or  not,  but  I  know 
be  uses  them  a  great  deal  more  than  he  did. 
I  don't  think  it  will  do  any  good  to  talk  with 
him  any  more  about  it — I  have,  two  or  three 
times,  and  have  made  up  my  mind  to  let  him 
take  his  own  course ;  for  he  has  a  right  to 
preach  as  he  chooses. 

Jones.  I  know  he  has  a  right  to,  but  I 
should  think  he  would  want  to  please  the  peo- 
ple. 

Smith.  I  tell  you  he  thinks  he  can  preach 
better  if  he  uses  notes  part  of  the  time. 

Jones.     I  don't  care  if  he  does  think  so  ;  he 


A    COLLOQUY.  57 

can't.  It  looks  to  me  like  obstinacy,  to  be 
preaching  from  his  old  papers  all  the  time, 
when  he  knows  xve  don't  like  it.  Now  if  I 
was  a  minister,  I  should  want  to  please  the 
people,  and  I  should  think  I  ought  to  please 
'em  when  they  support  me,  and  do  as  well  as 
we  do  by  our  minister. 

Orlow.  Hold  on,  br.  Jones.  I  don't  see 
as  it  looks  at  all  like  obstinacy.  You  go  too 
far  in  talking  so.  Now  I  believe  our  minister 
preaches  for  our  good  ;  and  if  he  can  preach 
better  from  no/es,  I'd  rather  he  would  use 
them.  I  am  sure  you  cannot  say  he  is  at  all 
confined  to  them.  He  can  judge  much  better 
than  either  you  or  I  can,  in  what  manner  of 
preaching  he  is  most  likely  to  prove  successful 
in  doing  good.  And  as  to  pleasing  the  people, 
I  think  he  does  wish  to  please  us,  and  strives 
to  please  us  as  much  as  any  minister  would. 
And  as  to  support,  a  minister  ought  not  to 
feel  that  he  must  succumb  to  every  whim  and 
caprice  of  his  people,  because  they  pay  him  a 
salary  for  his  labors  in  the  gospel ;  for  is  not 
the  "workman  worthy  of  his  reward?"  I 
don't  think  we  do  so  wonderfully  well  by  our 
minister,  either.  I  think  we  pay  him  too 


58  THE    UNIQUE. 

little,  and  should  be  glad  to  have  the  church 
vote  to  increase  his  salary  $100,  and  would 
pay  my  part  towards  it ;  for  I  know  he  has 
hard  work  to  get  along.  Why  the  minister 
at ,  has  $100  a  year  more  than  our  pas- 
tor, and  that  church  is  not  as  able  as  ours. 
He  can  get  more  too ;  for  the  church  in  the 

city  of  ,  you  know,  offered  him  $250 

more  than  we  give  him,  and  yet  he  refused  to 
leave  us.  I  believe  that  he  is  a  truly  pious 
man,  and  that  his  whole  soul  is  bound  up  in 
trying  to  do  us  good ;  and  I  do  think  it  is  too 
bad  to  make  so  much  fuss  about  such  a  little 
thing  as  using  notes ;  and  if  all  the  time  was 
spent  in  prayer,  that  is  spent  in  finding  fault, 
I  think  much  more  good  would  be  accom- 
plished. 

Jones.  I'm  sure  I  don't  want  to  find  fault, 
and  I'm  sorry  you  think  so,  br.  Orlow ;  but  I 
know  what  I  like,  as  well  as  other  people ;  and 
I'd  rather  he'd  preach  without  notes.  It  never 
seemed  to  me  like  preaching,  when  a  man  had 
paper  before  him. 

Orlow.  Well,  if  you  don't  want  to  find 
fault,  why  do  you  find  fault?  Any  one  to 
hear  you  tell  about  our  pastor's  obstinacy,  and 


A    COLLOQUY.  59 

using  such  harsh  kind  of  words,  would  sup- 
pose you  found  pretty  serious  fault.  It  seems 
to  me  that  you  are  making  a  great  ado  about 
nothing.  Why  only  look  !  what  is  the  trouble  ? 
Our  pastor  preaches  from  notes — little  skele- 
tons of  sermons.  He  scarcely  ever  reads  a 
sermon.  I  do  not  believe  he  has  preached 
six  sermons  that  were  all  written  out,  since  he 
came  here.  He  takes  a  half  sheet  of  paper, 
and  doubles  it,  and  on  that  puts  down  the  heads 
and  leading  remarks,  and  then  preaches  from 
it ;  and  this  seems  to  be  a  little  matter  for  you 
to  talk  so  harshly  about.  Pray  what  would 
you  do  if  he  read  his  sermons  word  for  word, 
as  many  ministers  do  ? 

Jones.  I  wouldn't  hear  him  at  all.  I 
shouldn't  feel  it  my  duty  to  go  to  meeting. 

Dea.  You  said,  br.  Orlow,  our  pastor  has 
hard  work  to  get  along  ;  I  did  not  know  that 
before  ;  at  least  I  did  not  know  any  particulars 
about  it,  although  deacon  Addison  hinted 
something  of  the  kind  to  me. 

Orloir.  Well  it  is  so.  At  the  close  of 
this  last  year,  he  was  behind  $73  to  my  cer- 
tain knowledge,  after  being  as  prudent  and 
economical  as  he  could. 


60  THE 


Ded.  Was  it  so  ?  Well,  what  was  done 
about  it  ? 

Orlotc.  I  was  not  going  to  tell  you  that, 
but  as  long  as  you  have  asked  me,  I  will. 
Four  or  five  of  us  made  it  up  to  him. 

Dea.  It  is  singular  that  I  never  heard  any- 
thing about  it. 

Or/oto.  Not  very  singular  either,  because 
we  concluded  to  say  nothing  about  it  at  the 
time.  But  it  is  no  matter  now,  as  our  society 
meeting  comes  tomorrow  evening,  and  then, 
as  I  suppose  deacon  Addison  told  you,  we 
are  to  see  if  something  can't  be  done  in  the 
way  of  increasing  the  salary. 

Dca.  Yes,  deacon  Addison  said  some- 
thing about  it  a  few  days  since,  but  there  were 
so  many  customers  in  just  then,  that  he  had 
no  chance  to  tell  me  any  particulars.  I  did 
not  know  why  the  salary  was  to  be  raised, 
though  I  supposed  our  pastor  had  complained 
that  it  was  too  little. 

Orlow.  No,  he  did  not  complain.  He 
said  not  a  word  about  his  pecuniary  matters, 
till  one  day  when  we  were  at  his  house,  deacon 
Addison  asked  him  in  his  good  humored  way, 
"how  he  made  ends  meet."  He  then  told 


A    COLLOQUY.  61 

us  just  how  he  was  situated.  Deacon  Addi" 
son  then  turned  to  me,  and  said,  "Br.  Orlow, 
this  won't  do !  He  must  not  have  his  mind 
worried  ahout  how  he  is  going  to  get  his  bread 
and  butter." 

Dea.  I  supposed  he  lived  comfortably  on 
what  we  paid  him ;  but  if  he  don't,  I  have  no 
objection  to  his  salary  being  raised,  and  I  am 
willing  to  help. 

Orlow.  That's  right.  I  don't  think  there 
will  be  any  difficulty  in  doing  what  is  right  for 
•him.  Come,  br.  Smith,  are  you  going  home  ? 

Smith.  Yes.  (Getting  down  from  the 
counter.) 

[Exeunt  Orlow  and  Smith. 

Jones.  Well  deacon,  I  believe  Orlow 
thinks  our  minister  is  perfect.  Everything 
that  he  does  is  right.  I  thought  he'd  fall  in 
with  us  about  the  notes,  didn't  you  ? 

Dea.  No ;  for  I  knew  he  did  not  care 
whether  he  used  them  or  not. 

Jones.     If  I   had   known    how    he   felt,   I 

shouldn't  have  spoken  so,  but   I  supposed  he 

felt  as  we  did.     I  wish  it  didn't  trouble  me  so 

much,   but  I  hate  notes.     I  don't  believe   a 

6 


62  THE   UNIQUE. 

man  can  be  under  the  influences  of  the  Spirit 
when  he  uses  notes. 

Dea.  Tut,  tut!  You  are  now  certainly 
going  too  far.  His  putting  down  a  few 
thoughts  on  paper  cannot  interfere  with  the 
Spirit's  influence,  for  as  br.  Orlow  says,  he 
uses  only  short  notes.  Tt  is  very  different 
from  writing  his  sermons,  and  reading  them 
word  for  word.  I  wish,  however,  he  would 
throw  his  notes  entirely  aside,  and  then  no  one 
would  complain  ;  but  it  is  of  no  use  to  say  any- 
thing to  him  on  the  subject. 

Jones.  I  don't  want  to  say  anything  to  him. 
But  what  do  you  think  about  raising  the  salary  ? 

Dea.  I  think  it  well  to  raise  it,  if  he  can't 
get  along  with  what  he  now  has.  Although  I 
don't  exactly  like  it,  their  not  consulting  me, 
I  must  say  I  admire  their  generosity  in  raising 
that  $73.  I  expect  deacon  Addison  paid 
at  least  half  of  it,  for  he  is  the  most  liberal 
and  kind  hearted  man  I  ever  knew.  I  believe 
if  he  had  but  half  a  loaf  in  the  world,  he  would 
give  it  away  to  any  one  who  needed  it.  He 
is  blunt  enough  it  is  true,  but  it  is  always  blunt 
kindness,  and  blunt  goodness. 

Jones.  I  should  think  our  minister  is  paid 
enough.  Here  comes  br.  Smith  back  again. 


A    COLLOQUY.  63 

Smith.  (Entering.)  I  forgot  my  flour; 
I  want  twenty-eight  pounds,  deacon. 

Dea.  I  must  say  I  should  think  it  would 
be  tough  work  for  him  to  get  along.  I  can't 
support  my  family  on  anything  like  his  salary. 

Jones.  Ministers,  you  know,  ought  to  be 
more  prudent  than  other  folks. 

Dea.  Ministers  must  have  something  to 
eat  and  wear,  as  well  as  other  people — they 
cannot  live  on  air.  I'll  trouble  you  to  get  off 
this  barrel,  as  I  must  unhead  it  to  get  br. 
Smith's  flour. 

Jones.  (Getting  off  the  barrel,  and  leaning 
on  the  counter.)  Can't  live  on  air!  well  no- 
body wants  'em  to  live  on  air. 

Smith.  I  guess  they'd  make  poor  work  if 
they  should  try  it.  How  mighty  secret 
they've  kept  it  about  raising  the  salary  !  I 
never  heard  a  word  on't  before. 

Jones.  Well,  I  can't  pay  any  more.  Min- 
isters must  come  down  in  their  notions,  and 
not  be  so  extravagant. 

Smith.     Our  pastor  isn't  extravagant,  is  he  ? 

Jones.     Yes  ;  they  all  are. 

Dea.  I  don't  think  you  do  right  to  say  so ; 
I  never  heard  any  such  accusation  against  him. 


64  THE    UNIQUE. 

Just  tell  us  one  thing  in  which  he  is  extrava- 
gant. 

Jones.  I  can't  stop  now,  (taking  out  his 
watch,)  I  must  be  going  towards  home. 

Dca.  That's  a  good  get  off.  You  are  in 
a  great  hurry  all  at  once.  You  can't  mention 
one  thing  in  which  he  is  extravagant. 

Jones.  Perhaps  I  can't  mention  anything 
pertickler,  hut  I  mean  ministers  must  come 
down,  and  live  more  like  their  people. 

Dea.  Live  like  their  people !  I  guess 
our  minister  would  jump  at  the  chance  to  ex- 
change living  with  some  of  his  flock. 

Jones.  I'll  talk  with  you  some  other  time, 
but  I  must  go  now.  [Exit  Jones. 

Dea.  Shall  you  vote  for  or  against  raising 
the  salary  tomorrow  evening  ? 

Smith.  I  shall  vote  for  it,  for  I  am  sure  I 
want  our  pastor  to  have  enough  so  as  not  to 
run  in  debt.  I  don't  want  him  to  be  in  debt. 
I  am  a  poor  man,  and  can't  pay  much,  but  I 
am  willing  to  pay  what  I  can  towards  it. 

Dea.  That's  good.  I  shall  vote  for  it. 
For  the  credit  of  the  church,  1  should  hate  to 
liave  it  said  he  couldn't  live  on  his  salary. 


A    COLLOQUY.  65 

Br.  Jones  says  he  can't  pay  any  more ;  but  he 
can  and  ought  to,  but  I  suppose  he  wont,  he 
is  so  much  worked  up  about  the  notes. 

Smith.  I  don't  like  notes,  but  I  ain't  going 
to  let  that  keep  me  from  doing  right. 

Dea.  Nor  I  neither.  Our  pastor  is  an  ex- 
cellent man,  and  one  of  the  best  preachers  any- 
where round  here ;  and  as  long  as  using  notes 
is  all  the  fault  we  find  with  him,  I  think  his 
other  good  qualities  should  lead  us  to  overlook 
that  one.  I  don't  know  any  minister  more 
pious,  and  more  devoted  to  his  work  than  he  is. 

Br.  Northfield  rides  up  to  the  door,  and 
sittins;  in  his  wagon,  calls  out  to  deacon  Mar- 
tin. The  deacon  and  br.  Smith  go  to  the 
door. 

Northfield.     Got  any  oil,  deacon  ? 

Dea.  No  sir;  sold  my  last  gallon  this 
morning.  Expect  some  this  evening. 

Smith.     Where  are  you  going  ? 

Northfield.     Home. 

Smith.     Take  me  along  ? 

Northfield.     Certainly. 

They  ride  off,  and  deacon  Martin  goes  back 
to  his  desk,  to  charge  br.  Smith  with  the  flour. 
6* 


€6  THE    UNIQUE. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


MR.  POMPOLONI. 

"  O  dear  discretion,  how  his  words  are  suited  ! 
The  fool  hath  planted  in  his  memory 
An  army  of  great  words." 

Mr.  Pompoloni  was  a  gentleman,  as  he  him- 
self supposed,  of  rather  brilliant  parts,  although 
all  his  acquaintances  did  not  agree  with  him  in 
this  opinion.  He  was  the  most  consequential 

member  of  Rev.  Mr. 's  church,  in  the  large 

city  of ,  and  considered  himself  entirely 

competent  to  give  a  small  bit  of  advice,  now 
and  then,  to  his  pastor. 

His  brethren  thought  he  was  proud,  but  this 
was  a  mistake,  for  actually  he  had  much  more 
of  the  appearance  than  he  had  of  the  spirit  of 
pride.  He  had  a  peculiar  habit  of  making  a 
sort  of  preface,  before  he  came  to  the  main 
point  of  his  subject ;  and  he  invariably  used  an 
abundance  of 

"  Words  of  learned  length  and  thundering  sound* 


MR.    POMPOLONI.  67 

which  he  often  introduced  in  such  a  ludicrous 
connexion  that  the  "risibles"  of  all  but  himself 
would  be  most  sensibly  affected.  The  follow- 
ing conversation,  or  dialogue,  (whichever  the 
reader  chooses  to  call  it,)  between  him  and  his 
pastor,  will  perhaps  give  a  better  idea  of  this 
gentleman  than  any  farther  description  of  ours. 
P.  For  some  time  there  has  been  a 
distressing,  irrepressible  impression  weighing 
down  my  mind,  that  it  was  my  unwelcome 
duty  to  Irave  a  faithful  and  sincerely  Christian 
conversation  with  you.  I  have  often  thought 
that  in  some  respects  you  were  exceedingly 
injudicious,  and  were  pursuing  a  course  pre- 
eminently and  preponderatingly  subversive  of 
your  influence  among  the  people.  A  minister 
stands  in  such  a  peculiar  situation  before  the 
world,  that  the  most  microscopical  indiscretion, 
under  disadvantageous  circumstances,  may  sully 
and  tarnish  a  reputation,  which,  on  account 
of  the  delicateness  of  its  structure,  should 
be  carefully  and  conservatively  environed  and 
guarded,  as  a  jewel  of  inestimable  worth, 
indeed,  beyond  all  price.  A  man  who  is  not 
a  minister  of  the  gospel,  may  with  symmetrical 
propriety  do  many  things  which  a  minister 


68  THE    UNIQUE. 

cannot  do,  without  deteriorating  from  his  influ- 
ence to  an  alarming  and  calamitous  extent. 
Men  in  public  life  should  ever  remember  that 
the  community  have  an  undeniable  right  to 
suppose  that  they  will  act  consummately  dis- 
creetly, and  with  unremitting  circumspection, 
in  reference  to  unimportant  as  well  as  momen- 
tous matters. 

The  more  influential  a  man  is,  the  more 
watchful  and  solicitous  should  he  be  to  con- 
duct with  prudence  and  wisdom.  One,  even 
one  unwise  step  taken  by  you,  might  be  repro- 
ductive of  infinitely  more  devastating  results, 
than  ten  thousand  taken  by  an  humble  individ- 
ual like  myself. 

Your  standing  in  society  imperatively  de- 
mands the  most  cautious  and  discriminating 
discretion ;  and  allow  rne  to  say,  Rev.  Sir, 
I  sensibly  feel  that  you  are  habituated  to  a 
form  of  expression  before  the  sharp,  Argus 
eyed  world,  that  determinatively  degrades  the 
dignity  of  your  character  as  a  minister  of  the 
everlasting  gospel ;  and  in  the  concatenation  of 
events,  it  is  impossible  to  decipher  how  super- 
latively terrific  may  be  the  disastrous  deduc- 
tions consequent  upon  this  detrimental  habit, 


MR.    POMPOLONI.  69 

Minister.  Will  you  be  so  kind  as  to  in- 
form me  to  what  form  of  expression  you  refer  ? 

P.  I  should  say,  sir,  it  was  a  sort  of  effer- 
vescible  way  of  speaking.  It  apparently  re- 
sults from  an  irreclaimable  hilarity,  or  an 
irretrievable  irresistibleness  of  cheerfulness. 

J\l.  I  do  not  know  that  I  get  your  idea. 
Do  you  mean  that  I  talk  foolishly,  or  what  do 
you 

P.  Oh  no  !  by  no  means,  sir,  by  no  means  ; 
do  not  so  grievously  misapprehend  me  as  to 
infer  that  I  would  intimate  that  there  is  the 
least  stultiloquence  in  your  conversation. 

J\f.     What  then  do  you  mean  ? 

P.  I  mean  sir — I  mean  that  your  irrefra- 
gable and  uncontrollable  flow  of  spirits  leads 
you  to  make  remarks  irrelievably  irreconcilable 
with  your  sacred  functions  as  a  minister. 

J\f.  I  really  do  not  comprehend  you,  unless 
you  mean  to  convey  the  idea  that  my  flow  of 
spirits  leads  me  to  make  light  and  frothy  re- 
marks. 

P.  My  dear  sir,  I  beg  you  not  to  use  such 
language,  and  so  unjustifiably  and  inappropri- 
ately misconstrue  my  meaning. 

«!/.     As  then  I  cannot  get  your  idea  from 


70  THE    UNIQUE. 

your  language,  you  must  illustrate  it  by  some 
of  the  remarks  to  which  you  refer.  Tell  me 
some  of  the  things  I  have  said,  of  the  character 
you  mean. 

P.  My  dear  sir,  excuse  me.  It  would 
not  accord  with  that  reverential  deference  I 
owe  you,  nor  with  your  unbending  dignity  as 
a  minister,  for  us  to  descend  to  the  minutiae  of 
particulars.  I  only  wished  to  speak  of  this 
matter  in  general.  It  is  perfectly  proper  to 
mention  it  in  the  abstract,  but  it  would  be  irre- 
deemably unpardonable  to  come  down  to  the 
concrete. 

M.  Well  then,  I  do  not  see  but  that  I 
must  plod  on  my  way  without  the  benefit  of 
improvement  from  your  idea,  unless  you  will 
mention  some  particulars,  for  truly  I  cannot 
comprehend  it  from  your  general  remarks. 

P.  You  will  excuse  me  sir,  I  am  sensible, 
when  in  addition  to  what  I  have  stated,  I  ob- 
serve that  I  have  an  unconquerable  and  mono- 
maniac aversion  to  particulars.  Your  percep- 
tive faculties  will  luminously  penetrate  my  idea, 
upon  transcendentally  tranquilized  reflection ; 
and  your  supereminent  ingenuousness  of  char- 
acter will  detruncate  any  suspicion  of  inter- 


MR.    POMPOLONI.  71 

ttieddling  impertinence  on  my  part ;  and  your 
imperturbable  piety  will  be  distinguished  by 
refreshing  and  invigorating  reflorescence.  We 
will  change  the  subject,  sir,  if  you  please. 

M.  Certainly.  Have  you  seen  br.  N 

to-day  ? 

P.  I  have  not,  sir ;  but  I  enjoyed  the  su- 
preme gratification  of  hearing  his  superexcel- 
lent  lecture  last  evening. 

J\l.  He  is  a  man  of  sterling  ability.  How 
\vere  you  pleased  with  his  sermon  to  our  peo- 
ple last  Sabbath  morn  ? 

P.  No  language  can  express  the  indefina- 
ble and  rapturously  extatic  admiration  with 
which  I  listened  to  it.  How  emphatically 
splendid  was  his  introduction !  What  con- 
secutive reasoning  in  his  argument,  without  the 
least  periphrastical  consarcination  !  And  then 
the  peroration,  what  charming  permeably  de- 
lightful consentaneousness  of  thought!  I 
never  heard  anything  so  ineffably  and  en- 
trancingly  enchanting.  I  really  did  not  know 
whether  I  was  in  the  body  or  out  of  it. 

Jlf.  I  was  pleased  with  his  discourse,  but 
I  think  I  have  heard  him  preach  still  better. 
It  was  by  no  means  one  of  his  strongest  efforts. 


72  THE    UNIQUE. 

P.  You  inexpressibly,  astonishingly  suf 
prise  me.  I  am  bewildered  with  amazement 
at  what  you  say  ;  for  it  is  surpassingly  beyond 
the  ramifications  of  my  intellection,  to  embody 
a  conception  of  anything  superior.  It  was  so 
indescribably  bewitching,  and  so  unutterably, 
captivatingly  fascinating,  with  such  perspicuous- 
ness  of  perscrutation,  without  the  slightest 
adumbration,  that  to  me  it  was  the  quintessence 
of  exhilaration  to  listen  to  him. 

M.  You  know  our  regular  church  meeting 
occurs  this  evening  ;  shall  you  be  with  us  ? 

P.  Such  is  my  presentaneous  calculation. 
I  shall  be  there  unless  unavoidably  prevented 
by  obstructing  circumstances. 

J\f.  I  hope  no  such  circumstances  will 
arise,  then,  for  I  am  anxious  to  have  as  many 
members  present  this  evening  as  possible,  as 
Mr.  G 's  case  will  again  come  up. 

P.  An  inextricable  perplexedness  perpet- 
uates that  disagreeable  case.  An  unpropor- 
tionable  quantity  of  time  has  been  irremissibly 
expended  upon  it,  which  has  been  prodigiously 
productive  of  nought  but  beclouding  obfusca- 
tions. 

M.     I  think  we  shall  disentangle  it  some- 


MR.    POMPOLONI.  *3 

what  this  evening.  Oh !  did  you  say  when 
you  were  here  last  that  you  have  the  autograph 
of  Mr.  Schriewinski  ? 

P.  1  did  sir ;  and  I  retain  with  undecaying 
preservation,  that  autographical  reminiscence 
of  his  personal  identity. 

On  the  evening  of  the  day  in  which  this 
conversation  took  place,  the  following  entry 

was  made  in  Rev.  Mr.  's  journal.  "Had 

another  call  from  Mr.  P .  He  has  some 

idea  about  my  manner  of  speaking  which  I  do 
not  exactly  understand.  He  strung  big  sound* 
ing  words  together,  as  usual ;  if  anything,  rather 
more  so  than  when  he  came  to  lecture  me  about 
my  course  on  temperance.  He  is  certainly  an 
odd  genius.  I  hope  he  will  not  come  again 
soon,  for  he  invariably  makes  my  head  ache." 


THE 


CHAPTER  IX. 


REV.  YATES  YERRINGTOtf. 

Sometimes  ministers  have  left  their  churches1 
when  they  appeared  to  be  doing  well,  and 
when  no  very  clearly  defined  reason  could  be 
given  for  dissolving  a  connexion  which  seemed 
to  be  so  happy  and  desirable.  In  such  cases 
the  community  Wonder  why  the  minister  has 
resigned  his  charge. 

"Did  you  know,"  says  one,  "Mr.  • 

has  left  ?  I  am  astonished.  1  thought  every- 
thing was  pleasant  and  harmonious  among  his 
people."  Says  another,  "What  does  it 

mean,  Mr.  leaving  ?  I  am  sure  I  never 

heard  any  fault  found  with  him."  Says  ano- 
ther, "Who  would  have  thought  it,  Mr.  

leaving — he  has  been  here  so  long,  and  his 
people  were  so  attached  to  him." 

Such  was  the  sort  of  wondering  talk  when 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Yerrington  resigned  the  pastoral 
care  of  the  church  in  the  delightful  town 


REV.    TATES    YERRINGTON.  75 

of ,  in  New  Jersey.  He  had  been  the 

highly  esteemed  pastor  of  that  church  for 
many  years.  He  was  their  first  minister,  and 
they  were  his  first  people.  He  commenced 
his  labors  among  them  when  he  was  a  young 
man,  and  when  they  were  a  little  and  a  feeble 
band ;  and  he  had  cheerfully  borne  his  share  in 
all  the  difficulties  and  trials  of  their  incipient 
stage  of  existence.  He  had  labored  hard,  and 
earnestly,  and  prayerfully,  in  the  cause  of  his 
Redeemer  among  them,  and  had  ever  felt  that 
no  effort  was  too  great,  no  burden  too  heavy, 
and  no  self-denial  too  severe,  if  he  could  be 
the  means  of  benefitting  the  souls  of  his  people. 

Under  his  faithful  ministrations  the  church 
and  society  gradually  and  steadily  increased, 
till  the  "little  one  became,"  not  indeed  "a 
thousand,"  but  rather  more  than  a  third  of  a 
thousand  ;  and  the  usual  Sabbath  congregation 
amounted  to  5  or  600  individuals. 

For  some  little  time  previous  to  Mr.  Yer- 
rington's  leaving,  a  few  of  the  leading  brethren 
had  felt  a  sort  of  indistinct  dissatisfaction  with 
their  pastor.  We  say  indistinct,  because  they 
could  not  exactly  tell  why  they  were  dissatis- 
fied with  him,  only  somehow  or  other  he  did 


76  THE    UNrQUE. 

not  seem  to  be  just  the  man  they  thought  was 
needed  in  .  This  dissatisfaction,  how- 
ever, they  studiously  concealed  from  him. 

We  will  give  a  little  account  of  a  church 
meeting  that  took  place  about  this  time,  and 
that,  perhaps,  will  give  to  the  reader  the  views 
and  feelings  of  these  brethren  in  a  clearer 
light  than  anything  we  can  say. 

In  that  meeting  one  brother  said,  "  I  think 
Mr.  Yerrington  is  a  very  good  pastor  and  a 
good  preacher ;  but  I  do  not  profit  lately  from 
his  preaching  as  much  as  I  used  to,  and  I  have 
thought  that  perhaps  a  change  of  ministers 
might  be  well." 

Another  one  said,  "I  always  liked  our  min- 
ister very  much,  but  I  do  not  think  he  is  as 
spiritual  a  man  as  our  church  now  needs." 
Another,  who  never  paid  over  five  dollars  a  year 
towards  the  support  of  his  pastor,  on  account 
of  his  penuriousness,  though  he  was  much  bet- 
ter off  in  worldly  things  than  some  others  in 
the  church  who  paid  five  times  five  dollars, 
said,  "I  have  never  been  satisfied  with  our 
minister's  receiving  so  much  salary.  I  think 
$500  is  as  much  as  ice  can  pay ;  and  I  think 
some  other  minister  who  would  live  on  less 
salary  would  do  better  for  us." 


REV.    YATES    YERRINGTON.  77 

Another  said,  "I  should  like  it  if  Mr.  Yer- 
rington  would  preach  more  gospel,  and  not  so 
many  practical  sermons.  I  am  tired  of  hear- 
ing so  much  ahout  our  duty.  I  do  not  think 
he  is  as  well  adapted  to  our  people  now  as  he 
used  to  be." 

Another  said,  "I  believe  our  pastor  is  a 
good  man,  and  wants  to  do  good  ;  but  he  does 
not  seem  to  have  the  gift  now  of  drawing  in 
the  people  as  he  once  did.  The  congregation 
don't  increase  as  fast  as  it  did.  I  think  that 
a  change  of  ministers  might  prove  useful." 

Another  said,  "I  have  not  anything  against 
Mr.  Yerrington.  I  like  him  much  as  a  man 
and  a  minister.  For  my  own  part  I  should 
be  satisfied  to  have  him  remain,  but  I  think 
the  novelty  of  having  a  new  minister  would 
draw  in  more  people." 

Another  said,  "Our  pastor  has  been  with 
us  many  years,  and  has  done  much  good ; 
but  I  don't  think  he  will  be  as  useful  to  us  as 
he  has  been,  if  he  stays  any  longer.  I  don't 
think  he  is  exactly  the  man  for  us  now." 

Here  he  was  interrupted  by  a  brother  who 
could  keep  silence  no  longer,  (and  who  did 
think  his  pastor  was  the  man  for  them  now,) 
7* 


78  THE    UNIQUE. 

who  inquired  as  follows  :  "  Why  is  he  not  THE 
MAN  FOR  us  NOW?  Have  you  heard  any- 
thing against  him  ?  Has  he  been  guilty  of  any 
impropriety  ?  Is  there  any  accusation  touch- 
ing his  character  ?  or  what  is  the  matter  that 
he  is  not  THE  MAN  FOR  us  NOW  as  much  as 
ever  he  was  ?" 

"Oh  no,  no,"  answered  the  interrupted 
brother,  "not  a  word  has  been  said  against 
him.  His  character  stands  perfectly  fair  and 
unblemished.  He  is  a  good  man,  an  excellent 
man  ;  and  I  have  no  fault  to  find  with  him  at 
all ;  but  I  do  not  think  it  advisable  for  him  to 
remain  here  any  longer.  It  is  sometimes  best 
for  ministers  and  churches  to  have  a  change  ; 
and  as  our  pastor  has  been  with  us  so  many 
years,  I  think  it  will  be  for  his  good  and  ours 
too,  to  have  a  change."  These  seven  breth- 
ren were  all  who  felt  the  slightest  dissatisfac- 
tion with  Mr.  Yerrington.  (No  other  member 
of  the  church  was  in  the  least  discontented, 
unless  we  speak  of  the  wives  of  these  brethren. 
Six  of  them  had  wives,  the  other  was  a  wid- 
ower. Of  these  six  wives,  five  sided  with 
their  husbands  ;  the  other,  the  wife  of  the  pe- 
nurious man,  was  a  firm  friend  of  the  minister. 


REV.    YATES    YERRINGTON.  79 

She  thought  he  was  the  best  man  in  the  world, 
and  had  none  too  much  salary.)  We  need 
not  detail  what  was  said-  by  others  at  that 
meeting.  Suffice  it  then  to  remark,  that  they 
were  astonished  and  grieved  at  what  these 
seven  had  said,  and  were  very  decided  in  ex- 
pressing their  interest  and  affection  for  their 
pastor,  and  their  opinion  that  he  was  still  the 
man  for  f/iem,  and  their  desire  that  he  should 
remain  with  them  till  God  should  call  him  to 
enter  upon  the  scenes  of  another  world. 

Mr.  Yerrington,  hearing  from  this  meeting 
that  very  night  by  some  of  his  friends,  who 
could  not  sleep  over  it  till  they  had  told  him, 
sent  word  to  those  seven  brethren  the  next 
morning,  that  he  would  be  pleased  to  meet 
them  in  his  study  that  afternoon.  They  came, 
and  spent  an  hour  with  him  in  talking  over  the 
matter ;  and  after  hearing  what  they  had  to 
say,  and  getting  an  insight  into  the  character 
and  kind  of  their  dissatisfaction,  he  told  them 
that  all  he  had  to  say  was,  that  they  ought  to 
have  told  him  of  their  trouble  before  ;  and  that 
they  need  not  give  themselves  any  further 
anxiety  about  the  matter,  as  he  would  very 
speedily  relieve  them  from  their  burden. 


80  THE    UNIQUE. 

Mr.  Yerrington  being  a  very  independent 
kind  of  a  man,  and  taking  but  little  time  to 
make  up  his  mind,  and  being  very  decided  and 
immoveable  when  it  was  made  up,  and  being 
very  prompt  to  act  on  his  decisions,  and  feel- 
ing that  he  never  desired  to  labor  with  a  peo- 
ple where  even  a  small  minority  of  them  felt 
at  all  dissatisfied  with  hiia,  resigned  his  pasto- 
ral charge  on  the  following  Sabbath. 

We  will  not  dwell  upon  the  scenes  that  en- 
sued— the  wonder,  astonishment,  grief  and  in- 
dignation that  were  felt,  and  the  "bitter 

things"  that  were  said  in  for  several 

weeks — the  efforts  which  were  made  to  induce 
Mr.  Yerrington  to  take  back  his  resignation — 
the  trouble  these  seven  brethren  had  with  cer- 
tain other  brethren,  and  their  qualms  of  con- 
science. 

We  will  draw  a  veil  of  two  years  over  the 

whole  of  it,  and  say  the  church  in have 

settled  the  Rev.  Rodolphus  Ruddleford,  who 
is  a  good  man,  and  loves  to  labor  in  his  Mas- 
ter's vineyard  ;  and  the  Lord  of  the  vineyard  is 
blessing  his  labors. 

Mr.  Yerrington  is  the  pastor  of  the  large 
church  in  the  great  flourishing  inland  town 


REV.    YATES    YERRINGTON.  81 

of ,  in  Pennsylvania.  He  is  very  pleas- 
antly located,  is  very  happy  with  his  people, 
and  is  doing  much  good.  His  people  love 
him  much,  and  esteem  him  very  highly  as  a 
preacher.  They  think  he  is  JUST  THE 
MAN  FOR  THEM,  and  that  it  will  be  a 
long  time  before  they  will  desire  a  CIJANGE 
OF  MINISTERS. 


82  THE    UNIQUE. 


CHAPTER  X. 

COLONEL  RICHARD  FORRESTER. 

"  The  man  that's  resolute  and  just, 
Firm  to  his  principles  and  trust, 
Nor  hopes,  nor  fears  can  bind." 

Colonel  Forrester  was  a  very  decided  man, 
and  a  very  decided  Christian.  When  he 
made  a  profession  of  religion,  he  understood 
what  he  was  doing.  He  had  counted  the  cost, 
and  had  resolutely  made  up  his  mind  to  conse- 
crate soul  and  body  to  his  Lord  and  Redeem- 
er. As  previous  to  his  conversion  he  had 
been  a  very  diligent  and  faithful  servant  of  the 
devil,  so  after  it  he  determined,  grace  assisting 
him,  to  be  equally  diligent  and  faithful  in  the 
service  of  his  God. 

Colonel  Forrester  did  not  act  from  the 
mere  impulse  of  feeling,  but  conscientiously 
adopted  his  line  of  duty,  and  then  scrupulously 
acted  up  to  it,  whether  he  felt  like  it  or  not. 
Under  whatever  circumstances  he  might  be 


COL.    RICHARD    FORRESTER.  83 

placed,  whether  at  home  or  abroad,  he  deemed 
it  his  duty  and  privilege  to  act  upon  Christian 
principle. 

In  his  domestic  relations,  he  endeavored  at 
all  times  to  set  such  an  example  before  his 
family  as  would  lead  them  to  believe  that  his 
religion  was  something  more  than  a  profession. 
He  governed  his  household  well,  having  his 
children  in  obedience,  as  all  Christians  should  ; 
and  manifested  not  only  for  them,  but  for  all 
who  might  reside  under  his  roof,  a  kind  and 
tender  Christian  interest.  All  the  members 
of  his  family  respected  him  as  a  servant  of 
Christ,  because  his  light  was  constantly  shining 
in  his  own  house.  They  did  not  regard  his 
religion  as  a  sort  of  outside  garment,  which  he 
put  on  when  going  out  of  his  house,  and  inva- 
riably took  off  on  his  return. 

As  soon  as  his  heart  was  given  to  God,  the 
family  altar  was  erected  in  his  house ;  and 
neither  worldly  company,  nor  the  hurry  of 
business,  nor  anything  else,  would  prevent  his 
offering  upon  that  altar  the  morning  and  evening 
sacrifice.  Neither  would  he  allow  anything  to 
interrupt  his  private  devotions,  nor  abridge 
that  time  which  he  had  set  apart  for  daily  com- 
munion with  God. 


84  THE    UNIQ.UE. 

He  made  it  a  point  always  to  converse  with 
his  impenitent  friends  upon  the  subject  of  re- 
ligion, whenever  suitable  opportunities  oc- 
curred ;  and  he  was  one  of  those  who  found 
many  of  these  suitable  opportunities. 

In  the  conference  meeting  he  never  declined 
taking  a  part,  for  he  considered  it  the  duty  of 
every  Christian  to  speak  and  pray  in  such 
meetings. 

In  his  business  transactions  he  never  sue* 
cumbed  to  anything  underhanded  and  small 
to  gain  the  advantage,  but  conducted  them  all 
with  the  most  rigid  regard  to  integrity ;  de- 
claring "that  he  would  give  up  business  if  he 
could  not  do  it  on  Christian  principle."* 
He  said  "he  believed  the  reason  why  so  many 
Christian  merchants  failed  was,  because  they 
conducted  their  business  too  much  like  the 
men  of  the  world.  The  Missionary,  Educa- 
tion, Bible,  Seamens',  Temperance,  Anti- 
slavery,  Moral  Reform,  and  every  other  good 

*  Some  professed  Christians  say  "  that  it  is  impos- 
sible to  do  business  on  Christian  principles — that 
they  must  succumb  to  the  tricks  of  the  trade  or  fail." 
This  is  not  true,  as  many  eminent  Christian  mer- 
chants besides  Colonel  Forrester  can  testify. 


COL.    RICHARD    FORRESTER.  85 

cause,  found  in  him  a  firm  and  uncompromising 
friend.  Though  a  man  of  high  standing  and 
much  repute  in  the  community,  he  was  not 
ashamed  to  have  it  known  that  he  was  a 
TEACHER  in  the  Sabbath  school;  nor  did  he 
consider  it  beneath  his  dignity  to  distribute 
tracts  with  his  own  hand.  He  was  not  a 
stranger  to  the  "fatherless  and  widow,"  nor 
to  those  "that  were  ready  to  perish;"  but 
their  "blessing  came  upon  him,"  as  he  "with- 
held not  his  bread"  from  them,  and  "warmed 
them  with  the  fleece  of  his  sheep." 

He  felt  that  it  was  his  duty  and  privilege 
strictly  to  observe  the  fourth  commandment, 
and  therefore  would  never  ride  out,  nor  eat 
sumptuous  dinners,*  nor  visit,  nor  read  a  po- 
litical newspaper,  nor  write  letters,  nor  talk 
about  worldly  matters  on  the  Sabbath.  He 
believed  that  it  was  the  Christian's  duty  to  be 
decided  for  his  Master  abroad  as  well  as  at 
home,  and  therefore  would  never,  like  unde- 

*  The  Colonel  would  not  allow  cooking  in  his 
house  on  the  Sabbath.  He  said  "  that  he  had  no 
right  to  keep  his  help  from  the  house  of  God,  by 
compelling  them  to  stay  at  home  to  provide  great 
dinners." 

8 


66  THE   UNIQUE. 

cided  Christians,  when  journeying,  travel  on 
the  Lord's  day  to  save  time.  He  occasionally 
spent  a  few  weeks  at  Saratoga  Springs  with 
his  family ;  but  he  was  not  among  those  Chris- 
tians who  act  inconsistently  while  there,  and 
cause  the  ministers  of  that  village  to  regard 
their  coming  as  a  curse  instead  of  a  blessing, 
He  was  as  regular  at  the  sanctuary  while  there, 
as  at  home,  and  attended  the  weekly  prayer 
meetings,  when  he  would  bear  his  testimony  to 
the  honor  of  his  Redeemer. 

He  was  once  in  Paris,  and  while  there  was 
strongly  solicited  to  attend  the  theatre  and 
opera.  He  answered,  "It  is  against  my  prin- 
ciples." 

He  was  then  urged  to  go,  on  the  ground 
that  being  away  from  home,  his  example  could 
do  no  harm,  as  it  could  not  be  felt  across  the 
waves  of  the  broad  Atlantic.  He  still  refused. 
He  was  then  told  "that  many  American  C/in's- 
tians,  and  some  American  MINISTERS  had  vis- 
ited these  places  when  in  Paris,"  and  then 
was  urged  to  go,  on  the  ground  that  he  need 
not  be  more  scrupulous  than  they  were.  But 
it  was  in  vain !  His  resolution  was  not  to  be 
shaken,  and  he  answered,  "  Such  as  I  am,  by 


COL.    RICHARD    FORRESTER.  87 

the  grace  of  God,  in  America,  the  same  will 
I  be,  by  the  grace  of  God,  in  Paris,  and 
wherever  I  may  go. 

Colonel  Forrester  was  a  rich  man,  and  was 
a  liberal  ricli  man.  He  believed  that  every 
Christian  was  bound  to  make  his  WILL,*  and 
give  more  or  less  of  his  estate  to  the  interests 
of  religion.  Bible,  Tract,  Missionary,  and 
many  other  good  societies  were  kindly  remem- 
bered in  his  will;  "For,"  said  he,  "I  want 
the  good  cause  of  my  Redeemer  to  have  some 
of  my  wealth  at  my  decease.  For  aught  I 
know,  my  children  may  turn  out  worthless 
spendthrifts,  (which  God  forbid)  and  if  so, 
I  had  better  make  part  of  my  money  safe  by 
putting  it  into  the  'Lord's  ftanfc.'"  However, 
while  he  provided  liberally  for  the  "good 
cause  of  his  Redeemer"  after  his  death,  he 

*  Many  Christians  do  not  agree  with  Colonel  F. 
in  this  respect  They  are  drawing  near  to  the 
grave,  having  made  no  will.  They  know  their 
heirs  are  of  such  a  character,  that  when  they  die, 
not  a  cent  of  their  property,  which  the  Lord  has 
tE>*T  them,  will  be  appropriated  to  subserve  the 
interests  of  Christ's  kingdom  on  earth.  Is  it  right  ? 
Christian,  consider! 


88  THE    UNIQUE. 

did  not  forget  it  while  living — but  kept  an 
open  purse. 

Colonel  Forrester  felt  the  most  lively  in- 
terest in  the  ministers  of  the  gospel,  and  no 
man  more  heartily  despised  anything  like  an  at- 
tempt to  disparage  them,  than  he  did  ;  and  he 
was  ever  ready  fearlessly  to  defend  them,  either 
against  the  avowed  enemies  of  religion,  or  against 
those  professed  Christians  who  have  so  little 
sense,  or  so  little  piety,  as  to  indulge  in  the 
despicable  business  of  foolish  tattling  against 
ministers.  No  man  could  discern  more 
clearly  than  he  could,  between  those  who 
might  be  lamenting  the  mistakes  and  errors 
that  ministers  sometimes  fall  into,  and  those 
who  were  captiously  ridiculing  and  making 
sport  of  them ;  and  while  he  would  sympathize 
with  the  former,  he  would  most  severely  chas- 
tise the  latter. 

For  his  own  minister  he  not  only  cherished 
the  highest  regard,  but  felt  the  truest  sympathy. 
Every  pastor  can  bear  witness  to  the  truth  of 
the  following  remark ;  that  some  Christians 
can  enter  into  their  feelings,  and  sympathise 
with  them  much  more  than  others  who  may 
be  equally  pious.  Colonel  F.  was  one  of  the 


COL.    RICHARD    FORRESTER.  89 

former  class.  He  seemed  to  enter  into  the 
very  heart  of  his  pastor,  and  sympathize  with 
him  in  his  joys  and  sorrows,  in  his  hopes  and 
fears,  and  in  his  difficulties  and  trials.  It  fol- 
lowed as  a  matter  of  course,  that  his  pastor 
became  very  much  attached  to  him,  and  in  all 
his  perplexities  and  troubles  advised  with  him. 
Once  when  party  politics  were  running  very 
high,  some  members  of  the  church  were  much 
exasperated  with  their  minister  for  voting,  and 
talked  very  bitterly  against  him,  so  much  so 
that  the  good  man  began  to  doubt  whether  it 
was  best  for  him  ever  to  vote  again.  Not  be- 
ing able,  quite,  to  make  up  his  mind  alone,  he 
consulted,  as  usual,  the  Colonel.  "You  are 
a  man,"  said  the  Colonel,  "and  have  rights  as 
a  man.  You  are  a  citizen,  and  have  rights  as 
a  citizen.  You  are  a  minister,  and  have  rights 
as  a  minister.  Use  all  these  rights,  but  abuse 
none  of  them,  remembering  that  you  are  ac- 
countable to  God  and  not  to  man."  His  pas- 
tor knew  all  this  before  :  he  knew  that  he  had 
these  rights,  and  it  was  not  the  words  them- 
selves, but  the  manner  in  which  they  were 
spoken  that  decided  his  course.  Henceforth 
he  voted  whenever  as  a  citizen  he  thought  he 
8* 


90  THE    UNIQUE. 

ought  to  vote;   and  disregarded   the  remarks 
weak-minded  men  might  make  about  it. 

If  our  limits  would  allow,  we  might  mention 
many  more  facts  which  would  show  the  confi- 
dence the  minister  reposed  in  Colonel  F.,  and 
which  would  also  show,  more  conclusively 
than  the  one  we  have  related,  the  sympathy 
and  interest  the  Colonel  felt  for  his  pastor ;  but 
we  have  mentioned  this  for  a  special  reason, 
which,  however,  we  think  the  reader  had  bet- 
ter not  know. 

We  will  close  this  chapter  by  relating  an 
incident  which  will  alike  exhibit  the  fearless 
decision  of  Colonel  F.,  and  his  views  of  gos- 
pel ministers,  and  his  feelings  towards  them. 

One   dark,  stormy  night,  in   the  city  of , 

intending  to  go  to  the church,  he  missed 

his  way,  and  entered  a  certain  tabernacle, 
where  a  meeting  was  held  in  which  any  man 
was  free  to  express  his  opinions,  and  in  which 
all  sorts  of  opinions  were  freely  expressed. 
But  the  two  most  prominent  themes  of  the 
evening  were,  the  editors  of  religious  news- 
papers, and  ministers  ;  the  latter  being  harped 
upon  the  most.  The  editors  were  showed  up 
"as  a  mean,  witless,  time-serving  set  of  men, 


COL.    RICHARD    FORRESTER.  91 

who  did  not  know  enough  to  last  them  over 
night,  and  were  unworthily  earning  their  salt 
by  sponging  the  community  with  editorials  that 
sprung  from  the  brains  of  others."  The 
''wolves  in  sheep's  clothing,"  as  the  ministers 
were  called,  were  ridiculed  and  abused  in  a 
manner  which  showed  them  up  as  anything 
rather  than  good  men.  The  harshest  names 
that  man  had  ever  devised,  were  none  too 
harsh  for  the  "-canting,  hypocritical,  licentious, 
avaricious,  money-making  parsons,"  as  the 
ministers  were  repeatedly  denominated. 

The  Colonel  never  having  attended  such  a 
meeting  before,  was  shocked  beyond  measure. 
He  thought  he  must  have  fallen  into  a  den  of 
infidels ;  and  he  was  not  very  far  from  the 
truth,  although  some  of  the  revilers  professed 
to  be  Christians — COME  OUTERS — and  others 
were  known  to  be  anything  but  Christians. 

Whatever  they  were,  he  determined  they 
should  know  what  he  thought.  He  felt  that 
he  could  not  sit  still,  and  that  it  was  his  duty 
to  open  his  mouth  on  the  behalf  of  the  reviled. 
Accordingly,  as  soon  as  one  sallow,  pimple- 
faced  reviler,  with  red,  shaggy  hair,  sat  down, 
he  arose,  and  spoke  as  follows : 


92  THE    UNIQUE. 

*  "I  know  not  where  I  am.     I  know  not 
who  any  of  you  are,  what  you  are,  nor  what 
you  profess  to  be ;  but  one  thing  I  do  know, 
and  that  is,  that  many  remarks  have  been  made 
here  to-night,  about  religious  editors  and  min- 
isters, that  are  false  and  cruel.     I  believe  that 
none  but  the  most  malicious  and  wicked  of  all 
God's    creation    could    have   fabricated    such 
wretched   and  detestable  lies    as   have    come 
athwart  my  ears  this  evening." 

Here  some  clamor  was  made,  but  it  was 
soon  hushed,  and  the  moderator,  or  sort  of 
minister,  or  whatever  he  was, — the  man  who 
sat  behind  the  desk,  told  him  "he  could  go 
on,  as  there  was  liberty  of  speech  there,  and 
they  would  hear  what  he  had  to  say."  He 
then  proceeded.  "I  do  not  know  why  you 
should  feel  such  a  malignant  and  bitter  hatred 
against  religious  editors,  unless  it  is  because 
they  blow  up,  SKY  HIGH,  such  detestable, 
practical  disorganizes  as  you  have  demonstra- 

*  Should  the  reader  think  the  Colonel  uses  too 
strong  language  in  his  speech,  he  must  bear  in  mind 
that  his  feelings  were  enlisted,  and  that  he  spoke  on 
the  spur  of  the  occasion.     Of  course  he  had  no 
time  to  prepare  what  is  called  a  "  set  speech." 


COL.    RICHARD    FORRESTER.  93 

ted  yourselves  to  be  by  your  speeches  this 
evening — speeches  of  much  more  venom  than 
sense. 

"And  as  to  ministers,  notwithstanding  the 
wholesale  falsehoods  which  have  been  told 
here  about  them,  there  is  no  class  of  men  in 
the  community  whose  lives  are  so  blameless, 
and  who  are  so  pure  in  their  conduct  as  they 
are.  I  mean  evangelical  ministers ;  for  as  to 
Unitarian  and  Universalist  ministers,  I  have 
nothing  to  say,  considering  their  sentiments  as 
nothing  more  nor  less  than  refined  systems  of 
infidelity.  I  speak  then  of  evangelical  minis- 
ters, and  say,  that  as  a  general  thing,  they  are 
wholly  engaged  in  their  work,  trying  to  benefit 
the  immortal  souls  of  men.  Many  of  them 
are  constantly  required  to  make  the  severest 
sacrifices  for  the  gospel.  They  possess  tal- 
ents and  energies  which  in  any  other  profes- 
sion or  business  of  life,  would  insure  them 
success,  and  much  more  than  a  comfortable 
maintenance ;  in  many  cases,  independence. 
And  yet  these  talents  and  energies  are  conse- 
crated to  the  good  of  a  people  from  whom 
they  receive,  perhaps,  but  a  scanty  pittance, 
and  in  too  many  cases,  scarcely  enough  to 
keep  the  soul  inside  the  body. 


94  THE    UNIQUE. 

"  These  devoted  men  are  set  up  as  marks 
for  all  to  shoot  at ;  and  they  are  shot  at  with- 
out mercy,  as  they  have  been  here  this  even- 
ing. Why,  I  should  think  the  very  fiends  of 
the  bottomless  pit  would  blush  to  hear  such 
vile  calumnies,  and  such  gross  outrageous  lies 

as  have  been  uttered  here  this  evening  by 1 

was  going  to  say  men  ;  but  no,  I  will  not  slan- 
der men  enough  to  call  them  so — by  some 
sort  of  indescribably  wicked  monsters  in  the 
shape  of  men.  The  trials  of  a  minister's  life 
are  wholly  known  to  none  but  ministers. 
Other  men  cannot  form  an  adequate  concep- 
tion of  the  thousand  vexing  troubles  that  are 
continually  occurring  to  worry  and  perplex  the 
minister's  mind. 

"He  must  patiently  bear  all  that  is  put  upon 
him — must  never  complain,  however  heavy 
his  burden  may  be.  He  must  willingly  lend 
his  ear  to  every  foolish  complaint,  must  sympa- 
thize with  all,  must  put  up  with  every  morbid 
conscience,  must  bear  with  every  misguided 
zeal,  and  must  endure  the  impertinence  of  the 
ignorant  and  insolent.  The  most  ridiculous 
stories  may  be  circulated  about  his  character 
and  ministry,  which  are  seized  upon  with  avid- 


COL.    RICHARD    FORRESTER.  95 

ity,  and  repeated  with  diligent  haste  and  many 
aggravations ;  and  men,  with  grave  faces,  ask 
if  they  are  true. 

"The  young,  the  middle  aged  and  the  old, 
all  feel  at  liberty  to  canvass  his  course  of  ac- 
tion, and  sit  in  judgment  upon  his  preaching, 
his  life,  his  motives.  If  he  does  not  bear  the 
censure  of  a  young,  ignorant,  conceited  mem- 
ber of  his  church  with  all  the  meekness  of 
Moses,  the  report  goes  like  wildfire  that  he 
shows  a  bad  spirit,  and  is  unwilling  to  take 
advice. 

"The  minister,  too,  has  many  struggles  of 
heart,  and  inward  trials,  about  his  church  and 
congregation.  He  feels  a  feverish  solicitude 
and  anxiety  for  his  hearers.  Little  do  they 
know  of  his  prayers  and  deep  distress  of  soul 
on  their  behalf.  These,  with  innumerable 
other  things,  make  the  minister's  lot  a  hard 
one.  It  is  not  a  bed  of  down !  There  are 
many  thorns  in  it !  His  life  is  none  of  the 
easiest ! ! 

"And  now  where  are  the  men  who  have 
so  much  to  contend  with,  and  yet  so  meekly 
bear  their  burden  ?  And  where  is  the  class 
of  men  who  in  purity  of  life  can  compare  with 


96  THE    UNIQUE. 

evangelical  ministers  ?  I  call  upon  their*  re- 
vilers  here  present,  for  an  answer.  I  call 
upon  these  calumniators  to  look  at  themselves ; 
to  look  at  their  neighbors ;  to  look  at  the  com- 
munity ;  and  answer  me  this  question.  And 
to  that  villifying  being  sitting  there  (pointing 
to  the  pimple-faced,  red,  shaggy  haired  man) 
who  last  reviled,  I  would  say,  with  all  your 
malice  and  venom  against  the  servants  of  God, 
I  challenge  you,  I  defy  you  to  show  me  the 
class  of  men  whose  lives  can  compare  with 
theirs.  May  the  Lord  have  mercy  upon  your 
poor,  wretched  soul,  for  your  own  wicked 
tongue  has  betrayed  you,  that  you  are  in  the 
'gall  of  bitterness  and  bonds  of  iniquity.'  " 


TEMPERANCE  INTERVIEW.         97 

CHAPTER  XI. 

TEMPERANCE  INTERVIEW, 

Between  a  pastor,  who  prided  himself* 
upon  being  very  analytical  in  all  his  sermons, 
and  who  was  out  of  all  patience  with  any  one 
who  did  not  keep  to  the  point  in  reasoning, 
and  who  withal  was  somewhat  nervous ;  and  a 
good  brother  in  his  church,  who  was  not  very 
remarkable  for  the  conclusiveness  of  his  reason- 
ing. 

Brother.  I  called  to  talk  with  you  about 
that  are  temperance  sermon  you  preached  last 
evening. 

Pastor.     What  have  you  to  say  about  it  ? 

B.  I  did'  nt  like  it  much.  I  think  you 
was  too  hard  on  us.  I  don't  know  no  mem- 
bers of  our  church,  that  uphold  rum-drinking 
in  the  way  you  said,  and  as  for  me,  I'm  sure 
I've  been  on  the  temperance  side  for  years. 

P.     In  what  way  ?    What  do  you  refer  to  ? 

B.     Why,  you  said  Christians  upheld  rum- 
drinking,  when  they  did'nt  take  no  stand  agin  it. 
9 


P.  Well,  what  then  ?  Is  not  that  true  ? 
If  you  say  nothing  against  an  evil,  is  not  that 
countenancing  it  ? 

B.     But  I  do  say  a  great  deal  agin  it. 

P.  That  is  not  the  point !  I  said  nothing 
about  you  in  my  sermon.  The  question  is, 
do  all  Christians  take  a  stand  in  favor  of  tern" 
perance  ? 

J3.  Our  church  does  as  far  as  I  know,  and 
I  guess  I  know  as  much  about  'ern  as  any* 
body. 

P.  What  has  our  church  to  do  with  it  ? 
I  did  not  say  a  word  about  our  church. 

B.  I  know  you  did'nt  call  the  church  out 
by  name,  but  we  all  knew  you  meant  us,  and 
we  thought  it  was  goin  a  great  ways  too  far  to 
hold  us  up,  as  bein  agin  the  temperance  cause. 

P.  It  is  strange  you  knew  I  meant  the 
church,  when  I  did  not  know  it  myself.  I 
had  nothing  to  say  about  the  church  in  any 
manner.  What  in  the  world  had  our  church 
to  do  with  any  temperance  sermon  ? 

B.  I  thought  you  meant  us,  and  others 
thought  so  too,  and  was  very  much  hurt. 

P.  That  is  stranger  yet — hurt !  I  cannot 
conceive  what  they  were  hurt  about.  Did 
you  feel  hurt  too  ? 


TEMPERANCE  INTERVIEW.         99 


B.  Sartinly  I  did,  or  I  shouldn't  come 
here  to  talk  with  you  about  it. 

P.  But  why  were  your  feelings  hurt  ? 
What  about  ? 

B.  Why,  as  I  jest  said,  because  you  was 
so  hard  on  us. 

P.  I  do  not  see  as  there  is  any  use  in 
talking  about  the  matter.  I  tell  you  I  did  not 
refer  to  the  church  at  all. 

B.     Well,  the  church  think  you  meant 'em. 

P.  I  do  not  see  how  any  persons  could 
have  thought  I  meant  them,  unless  their  own 
consciences  convicted  them.  They  must  feel 
guilty,  or  they  would  not  have  thought  so. 

B.     Guilty — guilty  of  what  ? 

P.  Guilty  of  not  taking  a  stand  in  favor  of 
temperance ;  and  if  any  of  them  are  guilty,  I 
did  mean  them. 

B.  But  you  jest  said  you  didn't  mean  the 
church. 

P.  So  I  say  now.  I  did  not  mean  the 
church  as  a  church.  1  was  preaching  about 
Christians  working  in  the  temperance  cause ; 
and  said,  that  I  believe  that  those  Christians 
who  did  not  take  a  stand  in  favor  of  temper- 
ance, uphold  rum-drinking.  And  I  say  it 


100  THE    UNIQUE. 

now,  and  intend  on  all  proper  occasions  to  say  it, 
and  if  there  are  any  members  of  our  church 
who  are  not  willing  to  come  up  and  do  their 
duty  in  this  cause,  I  did  mean  them  among 
others.  The  fact  that  some  of  them  feel  hurt 
as  you  say,  leads  me  strongly  to  suspect  that 
they  are  conscious  of  not  discharging  their 
duty,  and  therefore,  as  is  very  apt  to  be  the 
case,  when  a  man  is  convicted  by  his  own 
conscience,  supposed  I  meant  them. 

B.  I  was  one  that  was  hurt ;  do  you  think 
my  conscience  made  me  feel  kind-er  guilty  ? 

P.  I  presume  it  did,  for  I  have  never 
known  you  to  manifest  any  particular  interest 
in  the  temperance  reformation. 

B.  I  do  feel  interested  about  it,  but  I 
don't  make  such  a  pint  on't  as  some  folks  do. 

P.  Do  not  make  a  point  of  it ! — How  do 
you  show  your  interest  ?  Have  you  joined 
the  society  ? 

B.     No,  I  never  jined. 

P.     Why  not  ? 

B.  Because  I  an't  goin  to  sign  away  my 
liberty  for  any  man. 

P.  I  am  sorry  to  hear  you  sing  that  hack- 
neyed song  about  signing  away  liberty.  Do 
you  use  intoxicating  liquors  ? 


TEMPERANCE  INTERVIEW.        101 

B.  No — I  haven't  drunk  a  drop  of  speret 
for  six  years.  I  am  a  real  temperance  man, 
but  I  don't  want  no  pledges. 

P.  Why  not  ?  Why  are  you  unwilling  to 
join  the  society  if  you  use  no  spirits  ? 

J9.  Because  I  want  folks  to  know  that  I 
can  be  a  sober  man  without  takin  no  pledge. 

P.  There  is  no  use  then  in  talking  with 
you.  If  you  consider  a  mere  childish  notion 
of  not  wanting  to  pledge  yourself,  sufficient  to 
counterbalance  the  fact,  that  you  are  standing 
in  the  way  of  others  who  ought  to  sign  at 
once,  and  also  as  an  offset  to  throwing  your 
influence  in  favor  of  intemperance,  you  are  so 
unreasonable,  that  time  spent'  in  talking  with 
you  is  thrown  away. 

B.  You're  too  hard  on  me  ;  I  don't  throw 
my  influence  in  favor  of  intemperance. 

P.  If  you  don't  positively,  you  do  nega- 
tively. 

B.     I  don't  know  what  you  mean  by  that. 

P.  Why,  if  you  do  not  work  against  in- 
temperance, you  are  countenancing  it. 

B.     I  don't  see  it  so. 

P.  Don't  see  it  so  ! — It  is  time  then  you 
did.  It  is  just  such  men  as  you  are,  who  are 
9* 


10"2  THE    UNIQUE. 

standing  more  in  the  way  of  the  temperance 
cause  than  any  thing  else  at  the  present  time. 
Professed  Christians  refusing  to  sign  the 
pledge  !  And  who  is  it  that  thanks  you  for 
it  ?  Not  good  men,  but  the  rum-seller,  and 
ihe  drunkard  !  Yes,  you  are  the  song  of  the 
drunkard,  and  the  devil  rejoices  in  the  stand 
you  take.  No  doubt  some  miserable  ragged 
sot  is  quoting  you  at  the  present  time,  and  re- 
fusing to  join  the  society,  because  you  refuse. 
You  know  not  how  many  you  may  save  from 
a  drunkard's  grave  by  signing  the  pledge  at 
once. 

B.     I  never  thought  on't  so  before. 

P.  It  is  high  time  for  you  now  then,  to 
begin  to  view  it  so — Your  conscience  testi- 
fies this  moment,  that  you  have  not  done  your 
duty — You  would  not  have  come  here  this 
morning,  or  have  felt  hurt  by  the  discourse 
last  evening,  if  you  had  felt  satisfied  with  your 
course.  Now  candidly  tell  me,  am  I  not  cor- 
rect ? 

J5.  Why  sometimes  I've  had  doubts,  and 
thought  perhaps  I  ought  to  jine  the  society 
for  the  sake  of  others. 

P.     I  felt  sure  such   was   the   fact.      Now 


TEMPERANCE    INTERVIEW.  103 

then,  as  it  can  do  no  harm  to  any  one,  join 
the  society,  and  let  the  world  know  you 
are  a  true  teetotaller.  Throw  away  all  that 
nonsense  about  pledging  and  signing  away 
liberty,  and  do  your  whole  duty  as  a  man,  and 
a  Christian.  Now  will  you  not  do  it  ?  Re- 
member, by  so  doing,  you  will,  at  least,  re- 
move one  stumbling  block  out  of  the  drunk- 
ard's way.  You  will  do  it — will  you  not  ? 

B.  I  don't  want  to  say  sartin,  but  I'll 
think  on't. 

We  can  give  the  reader  no  further  informa- 
tion about  this  interview  ;  for  seeing  the  min- 
ister was  considerably  nervous,  and  out  of  pa- 
tience with  this  poor  brother,  we  came  away 
ivhen  the  conversation  had  progressed  thus  far. 


104  THE    UNIQUE. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE  CONTRAST.— UGLY  DEACON  BRAKE.— GOOD 
DEACON  DRAKE. 

Salatbiel  Brake  was  one  of  the  deacons  of 
a  church  in  Connecticut.  He  was  a  tall,  gaunt 
man,  and  had  a  long,  meagre,  shallow  face, 
with  a  very  sharp  nose.  He  was  not  a  man 
of  very  kind  spirit,  and  always  appeared  as  if 
something  had  happened  to  make  him  particu- 
larly crabbed  and  morose. 

He  was  never  very  courteous  in  his  beha- 
vior, and  consequently  was  not  regarded  as  a 
dignified  and  affable  gentleman.  His  neigh- 
bors did  not  look  upon  him  with  much  respect, 
because  they  believed  he  was  trickey  and  un- 
derhanded in  his  business  transactions.  He 
was  considered  as  no  ornament,  either  to  his 
profession  as  a  Christian,  or  to  his  office  as  a 
deacon,  on  account  of  the  inconsistencies  in 
his  walk  and  conversation.  His  heart  was  a 
stranger  to  true  benevolence  ;  and  as  to  char- 
ity, he  gave  not  a  cent,  unless  it  could  be  bla- 


TEMPERANCE  INTERVIEW.         105 

zoned  with  a  trumpet's  tongue.  He  was  quite 
rich  in  the  things  of  this  world,  but  so  poor  in 
faith,  that  the  egg  of  an  animalcule  might  have 
held  it  all,  and  yet  had  room  to  spare. 

In  the  church,  he  was  positive  and  dic- 
tatorial, and  was  always  unwilling  to  yield  in 
the  least,  to  the  opinions  and  wishes  of  his 
brethren.  He  was  an  exceedingly  troublesome 
man  to  his  pastors,  and  made  more  difficulty 
for  them  than  all  the  rest  of  the  church  put 
together  ;  and  was  actually  the  means  of  dri- 
ving several  of  them  away.  He  appeared  to 
take  delight  in  perplexing  and  worrying  his 
minister.  He  never  seemed  at  rest  in  the 
church,  unless  he  had  something  on  the  dock- 
et, which  caused  exciting  discussions  ;  and 
as  he  was  as  fickle  as  the  wind,  he  presented 
the  sort  of  living  paradox,  of  violently  sup- 
porting both  sides  of  a  question,  that  is,  at 
different  times.  For  instance,  one  time  he 
was  a  flaming  abolitionist,  and  nothing  would 
do,  but  to  open  the  meeting-house  to  all  sorts 
of  anti-slavery  lecturers,  and  yet,  in  less  than 
a  year,  his  views  and  feelings  had  so  changed, 
that  he  effectually  vetoed  the  opening  of  the 
house  to  one  of  the  best  lecturers  in  the  land. 


106  THE    UNIQUE. 

In  a  similar  manner  he  wheeled  about  in  re- 
ference to  the  temperance  question,  and  several 
other  topics  of  interest,  that  came  before  the 
church. 

JVb  one  could  tell,  when  any  subject  was 
brought  before  the  church,  on  which  side  dea- 
con Brake  would  be  found,  from  knowing  the 
side  he  had  formerly  espoused  ;  but  all  knew, 
that  let  the  subject  be  what  it  would,  he 
would  talk  loud,  long,  and  fiercely  about  it. 
It  was  always  a  relief  to  the  brethren,  if  he 
was  out  of  town,  or  if  any  thing  happened  to 
detain  him  at  home  on  church  meeting  eve- 
ning. If  he  was  ill,  they  were  not  glad  of  his 
sickness,  but  they  were  glad  if  the  church 
meeting  occurred  while  he  was  sick,  for  his 
unkindness,  and  harshness,  and  poor  counsels 
were  never  desirable  at  the  meeting.* 

But  we  take  pleasure  in  turning  from  him, 
to  speak  of  Simon  Drake,  who  was  one  of 

*  This  deacon  ought  to  have  been  disciplined, 
and  he  would  have  been,  if  the  church  had  had  the 
spirit  they  ought  to  have  had  ;  but  the  fact  was,  he 
had  in  some  unaccountable  way  gained  such  a 
Popish  ascendancy  over  the  minds  of  many,  that 
the  church  were  afraid  of  him. 


TEMPERANCE  INTERVIEW.       107 

the  deacons  of  a  church  in  Vermont.  He 
\\as  a  stout,  thick  man,  and  had  a  round, 
plump,  florid  face,  with  a  very  blunt  nose. 
He  teas  a  man  of  very  kind  spirit,  and  always 
appeared  as  if  something  had  happened  to 
make  him  particularly  pleasant  and  cheerful. 
He  was  always  very  courteous  in  his  behavior, 
and  was  consequently  regarded  as  a  dignified 
and  affable  gentleman.  His  neighbors  looked 
upon  him  with  much  respect,  as  he  was  known 
to  be  honest  and  honorable  in  all  his  business 
transactions.  He  was  considered  as  an  orna- 
ment both  to  his  profession  as  a  Christian,  and 
to  his  office  as  a  deacon,  because  he  was  so 
consistent  in  his  walk  and  conversation. 

His  heart  was  filled  with  benevolence  ;  and 
as  to  charity,  he  gave  all  he  could,  but  his 
left  hand  never  knew  what  his  right  hand  did. 
He  was  rather  poor  in  the  things  of  this  world, 
but  so  rich  in  faith  that  he  could  almost  re- 
move mountains. 

In  the  church,  he  was  diffident  and  unas- 
suming, and  was  always  icilUng  to  yield  (save 
where  principle  was  concerned)  to  the  opin- 
ions and  wishes  of  his  brethren.  He  was  nev- 
er known  to  make  any  trouble  for  his  pastors, 


108  THE    UNIQUE. 

but  was  invariably  ready  to  assist  them,  and 
do  all  he  could  for  them,  when  they  were  in 
trouble  with  any  one  else.  He  abominated 
that  feeling  which  takes  delight  in  torturing  the 
pastor,  and  was  always  cheerfully  doing  some- 
thing to  strengthen  his  hands  and  encourage 
his  heart.  He  could  not  feel  to  rest,  when 
there  was  any  thing  like  angry  discussion  in 
the  church,  and  always  opposed  the  introduc- 
tion of  any  subject  which  would  provoke  such 
discussion. 

As  he  was  not  a  fickle  man  he  never  sup- 
ported but  one  side  of  a  question.  He  was  a 
plain,  straight  forward,  consistent  abolitionist, 
a  firm  and  actice  temperance  man,  and  he  felt 
interested  in  every  good  cause. 

Every  one  could  tell,  when  any  subject  was 
brought  before  the  church,  on  which  side  dea- 
con Drake  would  be  found,  from  knowing  the 
side  he  had  formerly  espoused  ;  and  all  knew, 
that  let  the  subject  be  what  it  might,  if  he 
spoke,  he  would  speak  low,  short,  and  mildly. 
The  brethren  always  were  sorry  if  he  were 
out  of  town,  or  if  any  thing  happened  to  de- 
tain him  at  home  on  church  meeting  evening. 

If  he  were  sick  they  always  hoped  that  he 


TEMPERANCE    INTERVIEW.  109 

Would  be  well  before  that  evening  came,  be- 
cause his  kindness,  and  mildness^  and  good 
counsels  were  always  desirable  at  that  meeting. 
We  might  go  on  still  farther,  and  in  a  sim- 
ilar style  of  writing,  show  the  striking  contrast 
between  these  two  deacons.  But  we  have  al- 
ready written  sufficient  to  give  a  hint  of  the 
character  of  each,  and  that  is  all  that  is  neces- 
sary. The  reader  can  easily  imagine,  how 
each  of  these  men  would  act  in  the  different 
relations  of  life,  and  if  he  is  a  minister,  he  can 
quickly  decide  which  of  the  two  he  would 
choose  for  a  deacon  of  his  own  church. 


HO  THE 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

REV.  JAMES  JENKINSON  JENKINS, 

"  Himself  he  View'd  with  undisguised  respect, 
And  never  pardoned  freedom  or  neglect." 

It  was  in  18- — that  the  Rev.  J.  Jenkinsor* 
Jenkins,  (as  he  wrote  his  name)  resigned  the 
pastoral  care  of  the  large  church  in  the  city  of 
,  somewhere  between  Maine  and  Geor- 
gia. The  reason  why  he  resigned  was  a 
very  good  one.  It  was  this — the  people  were 
much  dissatisfied  with  him.  The  reason  why 
the  people  were  much  dissatisfied  with  him, 
may,  perhaps,  be  gathered  from  what  is  con- 
tained in  this  chapter. 

Mr.  Jenkins  was  a  man  of  acknowledged 
talent.  He  could  write  as  good  a  sermon  as 
most  any  other  minister,  and  his  discourses- 
invariably  afforded  the  evidence  of  much  think- 
ing and  study.  They  gave  ample  proof  that 
he  possessed  a  clear  and  discriminating  intel- 
lect ;  and  they  were  couched  in  language  chaste 


REV.    JAMES    JENKINSON    JENKINS.          Ill 

and  strong; ;  and  their  reasoning  was  always  con- 
secutive and  convincing  :  if  they  were  lacking 
in  any  thing,  it  was  in  the  imaginative.  Perhaps 
the  brilliant  "coruscations"  of  a  fertile  imagi- 
nation, flashing  a  little  here  and  there  in  his 
sermons,  might  have  relieved  them  of  a  sort  of 
cold  stateliness,  which  was  somewhat  appar- 
ent in  them.  This  might  have  improved 
them,  in  the  estimation  of  some.  However, 
they  were  sterling  coin,  just  as  they  came 
from  his  mint. 

But,  notwithstanding  his  good  sermons,  Mr. 
Jenkins  did  not  move  along  very  comfortably 
as  a  pastor.  He  did  not  seem  to  have  the 
tact  of  winning  the  affections  of  his  people, 
indeed,  he  did  not  desire  it,  for  he  often  re- 
marked that  he  would  much  rather  have  their 
respect  than  their  love.  Once  conversing  with 
a  young  ministering  brother  about  mingling 
with  the  people,  he  said,  "  it  is  best  always  to 
preserve  your  dignity  among  them,  for  although 
they  may  not  love  you  as  much,  they  will  re- 
spect you  the  more,  and  that  is  what  ministers 
should  desire  ;  they  should  wish  and  strive  to 
be  respected." 

He  had  imbibed  the  erroneous  idea  that  he 


112  THE    UNIQUE. 

could  not  be  respected,  if  he  was  sociable  with 
his  people,  and  therefore  always  treated  them 
with  considerable  formality,  and  sometimes 
very  cavalierly.  "  To  be  really  sociable,"  said 
he,  "  as  many  ministers  are,  is  highly  derog- 
atory to  the  character  of  a  clergyman.  It  is 
sinking  his  dignity  exceedingly,  and  shows  that 
he  has  no  self  respect,  and,  of  course,  then,  the 
people  will  not  respect  him.  Now  I  had  a  thou- 
sand times  rather  my  people  would  fear  and  re- 
spect me,  than  love  me  to  death  on  account  of 
being  sociable  and  pleasant."  He  seemed  to 
overlook  the  fact,  that  true  dignity  is  always 
blended  with  urbanity  of  speech  and  manner. 

Perhaps  he  read  Shakspeare  full  as  much 
as  was  profitable  for  a  minister  ;  and  he  was 
very  fond  of  quoting  him,  and  altering  some  of 
his  passages  more  or  less,  to  suit  his  own 
views.  As  for  instance  the  passage  in  King 
Henry  the  Fourth, 

"  The  skipping  king,  he  ambled  up  and  down 
With  shallow  jesters,  and  rash  bavin  wits, 
Mingled  his  royalty  with  capering  fools ; 
Had  his  great  name  profaned  with  then*  scorns  j 
And  gave  his  countenance  against  his  name, 
To  laugh  at  gibing  boys,  and  stand  the  push 
Of  every  beardless  vain  comparative  !" 


REV.    JAMES    JENKINSON    JENKINS.         113 

he  would  alter  after  the  following  fashion,  and 
repeat  with  much  zest  in  the  presence  of  any 
minister  whom,  he  thought,  did  not  think 
enough  of  being  respected,  and  was  too  socia- 
ble among  the  people. 

"The  skipping  parson,  ambled  through  the  streets 

With  shallow  jesters,  and  weak  headed  wits, 

Mingled  his  ministry  with  chattering  folks ; 

Had  his  great  name  made  common  with  their  mirth; 

And  gave  his  countenance  against  his  name, 

To  laugh,  and  pleasant  be,  and  sociable 

With  Jemmy,  and  Tom,  and  Dick,  and  Harry." 

"  There,"  he  would  say,  "  Shakspeare 
and  I  together  have  drawn  the  character  of  a 
sociable  minister." 

As  to  visiting,  there  was  considerable  com- 
plaint among  his  people,  for  he  did  not  calcu- 
late to  do  much  in  that  way,  be  the  issue  what 
it  might.  He  said,  "  he  had  no  patience  with 
those  ministers  who  were  all  the  time  gadding 
about  their  parishes  ;  for  they  might  know  the 
people  could  not  respect  them,  if  they  pursued 
such  a  course." 

He  said  "he  considered  it  sufficient,  if  he 
called  upon  those  of  his  flock  who  were  sick, 
or  had  sickness  in  their  families ;  and  that  it 
10* 


114  THE    UNIQUE. 

was  a  work  of  undignified  supererogation  to 
call  upon  any  others  ;  and  that,  for  his  part, 
he  would  not  do  it,  but  would  remain  at  home 
studying  his  sermons,  that  he  might  bring 
'  beaten  oil '  into  the  sanctuary  on  the  Sab- 
bath." 

Such  were  the   feelings   that  Mr.   Jenkins 

had,  when  he  entered  upon  his  labors  at , 

and  such  were  the  feelings  that  he  cherished 
during  the  (I  will  not  say,  how  many)  years 
that  he  remained  there. 

Can  it  reasonably  be  supposed  that  the 
church  and  congregation  should  have  formed  a 
very  strong  attachment  to  their  pastor  ?  It 
soon  became  evident  that  such  was  the  fact, 
and  that,  whatever  other  feelings  they  might 
have  towards  him,  they  did  not  love  him. 
The  more  intelligent  portion  of  his  hearers 
did  respect  him  as  a  man  of  talent,  and  were 
pleased  and  edified  with  his  sermons  ;  but  the 
other  portion  neither  respected  him,  nor  loved 
him,  nor  cared  for  him. 

The  people  in were  a  very  kind   and 

affectionate  people,  and  needed  a  pastor  who 
could  warmly  reciprocate  their  feelings.  Such 
pastors  they  had  been  accustomed  to  have, 


REV.    JAMES    JENKINSON   JENKINS.          1  15 

and  they  had  lived  and  labored  with  them  in 
uninterrupted  harmony  and  usefulness.  And 
if  Mr.  Jenkins  had  exhibited  the  spirit  which 
a  minister  of  the  gospel  ever  should  exhibit  ; 
if  he  had  acted  the  part  of  the  Christian  gen- 
tleman, the  part  of  a  kind  and  attentive  min- 
ister, the  part  of  a  meek  and  devoted  pastor  ; 
if  he  had  mingled  with  his  flock  in  cheerful 
and  consistent  intercourse  ;  if  he  had  mani- 
fested a  tender  interest  in  their  joys  and  sor- 
rows ;  he  might  have  remained  with  them  till 
the  day  of  his  death  ;  he  might  have  been  not 
only  respected,  but  sincerely  and  ardently  be- 
loved ;  he  might  have  exerted  a  widely  extend- 
ed influence ;  and  doubtless  might  have  been 
the  honored  instrument  of  "turning  many  sin- 
ners to  righteousness." 

But  alas  !  He  was  determined  to  pursue 
his  own  misguided  course.  He  would  not 
listen  to  the  prudent  counsels  of  other  inter- 
ested ministers,  who  were  grieved  with  the 
folly  of  his  way,  and  who,  in  the  spirit  of  their 
Master,  tried  to  reclaim  him;  but  he  gave  them 
to  understand,  that  he  regarded  their  advice  as 
uncalled  for,  and  as  rude  officiousness. 

He  would  not  take  heed  to  the  gentle  ex- 


116  THE    UNIQUE. 

postulations  of  his  best  and  most  intelligent 
parishioners,  but  would  answer  them  with 
much  apparent  asperity  of  feeling,  "I  know 
my  rights,  and  I  am  as  competent  to  judge, 
what  is  most  advisable  for  me  to  do,  as  any 
other  man.  I  shall  not  lower  my  self  respect 
to  receive  dictation  from  any  one,  nor  shall  I 
run  the  risk  of  losing  the  RESPECT  of  oth- 
ers by  changing  my  course.  I  shall  act  as  I 
see  fit,  and  if  the  people  are  pleased,  it  is 
well ;  if  they  are  not  pleased,  it  is  well ;  I 
shall  not  trouble  myself  to  do  any  thing  differ- 
ently from  what  I  have  done." 

As  might  be  supposed  the  people  became 
discontented,  and  lamented  the  day  they  had 
ever  settled  him.  The  dissatisfaction  contin- 
ued to  increase,  till  he  was  compelled  to  resign 
his  pastoral  charge. 

Thus  was  dissolved  a  connection,  which, 
but  for  his  waywardness,  might  have  been  use- 
ful and  lasting ;  and  might  have  been  all  that 
could  be  desired. 


CHEATING  BY  CHURCHES  AS  CHURCHES.    117 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

CHEATING  BY  CHURCHES,  AS  CHURCHES. 

Samuel  Greiting  was  a  plain,  straightfor- 
ward sort  of  a  man,  by  trade  a  shoemaker. 
He  was  a  man  of  good  common  sense,  and 
was  a  praying,  devoted  Christian.  He  acted 
on  principle  in  his  family,  and  out  of  it  ;  on 
the  week  days,  as  well  as  on  the  Sabbath  ;  in 
the  world,  as  well  as  in  the  church.  He  con- 
ducted his  business  on  principle,  and  was 
scrupulously  honest  in  all  his  dealings  ;  and  no 
man  could  convince  him  that  there  was  any 
good  reason  why  all  Christians,  and  in  fact 
churches  also,  should  not  act  on  principle. 

One  day  as  he  was  in  his  shop  (which  was 
located  not  in  Philadelphia,  but  somewhere 
within  a  thousand  miles  of  that  city  of  "brother- 
ly love,")  with  his  Bible  open  before  him,  for 
he  was  accustomed,  as  he  sat  upon  his  bench, 
hammering  the  leather  upon  the  lap-stone,  or 
driving  the  pegs  into  the  shoes,  to  have  his 


118  THE    UNIQUE. 

Bible  on  a  little  stool,  opened,  that  he  might 
read  a  verse,  and  then  think  of  it  as  he  work- 
ed ;  we  say,  one  day  as  he  was  thus  engaged, 
raising  his  head,  he  saw  Dr.  Barclay  passing 
by  his  window.  He  immediately  dropped  his 
work,  ran  to  the  door,  and  cried  out,  doctor, 
"why  is  cheating  in  a  church  any  less  sinful 
than  in  individuals?"  Dr.  Barclay  being  thus 
suddenly  accosted,  turned  round,  walked  back, 
and  entered  the  shop,  saying  as  he  was  enter- 
ing, "  what  do  you  mean,  brother  Greiting? 
What  are  you  at  now  ?" 

Greiting.  Why  this  morning  I  read  this 
passage  in  the  ninth  chapter,  14th  verse  of  1 
Corinthians,  (reading  it  loud)  "Even  so  hath 
the  Lord  ordained,  that  they  which  preach  the 
Gospel  should  live  of  the  Gospel,"  and  I  have 
been  thinking  it  over  since,  and  it  seems  to  me 
that  many  of  our  churches  don't  keep  it  in 
mind,  for  how  many  of  them  there  are  which 
do  not  support  their  ministers,  and  do  not 
even  pay  them  as  much  as  they  ought  consid- 
ering their  ability,  and  how  many  churches  too, 
let  their  ministers  go  away  unpaid,  and  then 
refuse  even  to  pay  them.  Now  where  is  prin- 
ciple, CHRISTIAN  PRINCIPLE,  when  churches 
conduct  in  this  manner? 


CHEATING  BY  CHURCHES  AS  CHURCHES.    119 

Doctor.  I  suppose  some  of  our  churches 
do  not  provide  for  their  pastors  as  well  as  they 
can,  but  I  reckon  it  is  not  often  the  case  that 
a  minister  goes  away  without  being  paid  all 
arrearages. 

G.     Oh,  yes  it  is. 

D.     Do  you  know  of  many  such  cases  ? 

G.  Yes,  indeed  I  do.  There  was  good 

father  B who  labored  for  the  church  in 

sometime,  and  when  he  left  them,  they 

owed  him  seventy  dollars.  He  has  repeated- 
ly requested  them  to  do  something  about  it, 
but  they  refuse.  He  told  them  that  if  they 
would  take  up  a  contribution  for  him,  he  would 
give  them  a  receipt  in  full,  even  if  it  did 
not  amount  to  ten  dollars,  but  they  wouldn't 
do  it.  Now  if  that's  not  cheating,  I  don't 
know  what  cheating  is.  Then  there  was 

brother  L ,  the  church  in owed  him 

more  than  $300,  and  they  have  never  paid 
him  one  cent  of  it  to  this  day.  There  was 

father  D too,  the  church  in  owed 

him  $400  when  he  left,  and  they  might  have 
paid  him  the  whole  of  it,  before  this  time,  if 
they  had  raised  only  thirty  dollars  a  year  to- 
wards it — but  they  have  never  paid  him  a 


120  THE   UNIQUE. 

levy*  of  it.     Then  the  church  in owes 

brother  R — —  $200,  and  they  won't  pay  him, 

and  brother  M has  never  yet  been  paid 

by  the  church  in .     Now  all  these  cases 

I  consider  just  as  much  cheating,  as  it  would 
be  for  me  to  agree  to  pay  you  $500  for  a 
year's  labor,  and  then  only  pay  $250,  and  re* 
fuse  to  pay  the  rest.  Don't  you  ? 

D.  Why  yes,  I  suppose  it  is — but  you 
know  it  is  said  that  corporations  and  associa- 
tions have  no  souls,  and  I  suppose  churches 
are  included,  for  they  are  associations  of  be* 
lievers,  and  the  societies  connected  with  them, 
you  know,  are  often  incorporated. 

G.  Well,  if  they  don't  have  souls  they 
ought  to  have,  and  churches  especially,  should 
not  cheat,  but  act  on  principle,  or  else  they 
disgrace  religion. 

D.  That  is  true,  but  what  can  we  do  about 
»t?  I  do  not  see  as  we  can  do  anything. 
Do  you  ? 

G.  Yes,  something  can  be  done  about  it. 
If  other  churches  and  ministers  would  take 
the  stand  they  ought  to,  the  evil  would  soon 
cease. 

*That  is  twelve  and  a  half  cents. 


CHEATING  BY  CHURCHES  AS  CHURCHES.  121 

D.     What  stand  ? 

G.  Suppose  a  church,  as  a  body,  should 
Uphold  the  drinking  of  ardent  spirits,  it  would 
be  considered  such  a  grievous  sin  that  other 
churches  would  not  fellowship  them,  and  good 
ministers  would  not  preach  for  them  ;  so  they 
would  be  compelled  to  renounce  this  iniquity* 
In  the  same  way  they  should  conduct  towards 
a  church  that  refuses  to  pay  its  honest  debts. 
Now  take  these  churches  I  have  mentioned. 
If  other  churches  and  ministers  refused  to  fel- 
lowship them,  or  have  any  thing  to  do  with 
them,  till  they  paid  their  minister,  they  would 
soon  clear  off  their  debts.  But  as  long  as 
they  are  fellowshipped  just  as  if  they  had  never 
cheated  their  ministers,  so  long  will  they  con- 
tinue their  iniquity. 

D.  I  know  that  is  the  true  course,  and  if 
churches  and  ministers  would  act  on  principle, 
they  would  follow  that  course.  But  they  will 
not,  so  I  do  not  see  as  the  evil  can  be  cured. 

G.  It  makes  me  heart  sick,  when  I  think 
how  little  real  principle  there  is  among  Chris- 
tians. Now  if  I  was  a  minister,  I  would  no 
more  assist  in  ordaining  a  man  over  a  church 
which  had  cheated  their  last  pastor,  than  I 
11 


122  THE    UNIQUE. 

would  over  a  church  which  had  voted  that  in- 
toxication was  no  evil.  But  yet,  ministers 
will  take  part  in  ordination  services,  when  they 
know  the  church  has  cheated  their  pastors, 
and  not  say  a  syllable  about  the  sin  of  it.  If 
I  should  be  sent  as  a  delegate  to  such  a  church, 
when  they  were  going  to  ordain  a  minister,  I 
would  refuse  to  act,  and  tell  them  plainly  my 
reason  was,  because  they  had  not  paid  their 
honest  debts. 

D.  Dear  me !  It  would  make  a  stir  if 
you  should. 

G.  Well,  it  is  time  there  should  be  a  stir- 
The  people  of  God  have  slept  over  this  evil 
long  enough.  It  is  time  for  the  churches  to 
act  on  principle,  and  neither  cheat,  nor  coun- 
tenance cheating,  any  longer.  Sins  in 
churches  should  not  be  connived  at  by  other 
churches. 

D.  That  is  true,  and  I  wish  all  Christians 
were  of  the  same  opinion. 

Gr,  And  did  you  ever  think,  doctor,  how 
mean  it  is,  thus  to  cheat  ministers?  If  a 
church  owed  a  worldly  man  an  $100,  it  would 
be  paid,  because  they  would  be  afraid  of  bein§ 
sued.  But  if  they  owe  a  minister,  they  say, 


CHEATING  BY  CHURCHES  AS  CHURCHES.    123 

he'll  not  take  advantage  of  the  law,  and  so 
they  will  meanly  rest  contented  to  owe  him 
forever. 

I  don't  approve  of  Christians  going  to  law, 
or  else  I  should  hope  that  some  minister  who 
has  been  cheated,  would  prosecute  the  cheating 
church,  that  Christians  who  will  not  do  right 
from  principle,  might  be  compelled  by  the  law 
to  do  so. 

.D.  Well  brother  Greiting,  what  do  you 
think  of  those  churches  which  in  building  a 
meeting-house,  so  contrive  the  plan,  that  if 
there  is  any  loss,  it  shall  fall  on  the  mechanics 
who  erected  it  ? 

G.  What  do  I  think !  I  think  it  is  down- 
right cheating,  and  shows  a  dreadful  lack  of 
principle. 

D.  What  do  you  think  of  churches,  which 
allow  their  agents  in  getting  subscriptions  for 
building  a  meeting-house,  to  have  on  their  list 
the  name  of  some  prominent  man  for  a  large 
sum,  which,  it  is  understood,  he  is  never  to  be 
called  upon  to  pay,  merely  to  induce  others 
to  subscribe  liberally  ? 

G.  Any  church  that  will  consent  to  that, 
I  consider  guilty  of  the  vilest  hypocrisy,  but 


124  THE    UNIQUE. 

don't  ask  me  any  more  such  questions,  for  I 
hate  to  think  of  such  things  among  the  church- 
es of  Christ.  It  grieves  me  to  my  very  soul, 
when  I  think  how  little  real  principle  there  is. 
I  trust  the  day  will  come  when  there  will  be 
more  of  it  among  God's  people. 

D.  So  do  I,  and  I  must  try  myself  to  act 
more  from  principle  than  I  have. 

G.  And  so  must  I,  and  may  the  Lord 
help  me  to  do  it. 

The  doctor  now  took  his  departure,  and 
Samuel  Greiting  again  sat  himself  down  to 
work,  and  rap,  rap,  rap,  went  his  hammer 
o'er  his  lap-stone,  as  he  said  to  himself — 
"The  Lord,  not  man — the  Lord,  the  great 
head  of  the  church,  has  said — has  ordained — 
that  those  who  preach  the  Gospel  should  live 
of  the  Gospel.  I  am  afraid  that  some  of  our 
churches  forget, — that  the  Lord  has  ordained 
this.  They  must  think  man  has  ordained  it, 
or  else  they  would  not  half  starve  their  minis- 
ters, nor  cheat  them.  Oh  ! — that  there  was 
more  principle  among  Christians. 


REV.    CHRISTOPHER    FICKLE.  125 


CHAPTER  XV. 

KF.V.  CHRISTOPHER  FICKLE. 

"  'Tis  strange,  'tis  passing  strange, 
That  such  a  man.  a  man  of  so  much  sense 
Should  be  so  fickle  minded.'' 

Rev.  Ferdinand  Fickle,  the  grandfather  of 
Rev.  Christopher  Fickle,  was  a  man  of  gigan- 
tic stature,  gigantic  intellect,  gigantic  resolution, 
and  gigantic  strength.  He  was  said  to  be  the 
strongest  man  in  the  northern  part  of  England, 
and  was  frequently  challenged  by  the  most 
powerful  men  of  his  country  to  a  trial  of 
strength.  These  challenges,  however,  he  in- 
variably declined,  considering  it  incompatible 
with  his  dignity  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel  to 
accept  them.  One  man  who  had  rode  a  long 
distance  (as  the  story  goes)  for  the  purpose  of 
trying  his  physical  powers  with  him,  after 
vainly  endeavoring  to  induce  him  to  engage, 
rudelv  seized  him,  being  determined  to  know 

which    was    the    stronger    of  the    two.      Mr. 
11* 


126  THE    UNIQUE. 

Fickle  very  calmly  took  him  up,  and  threw 
him  over  a  neighboring  fence.  The  man, 
being  fully  satisfied  which  was  the  stronger  of 
the  two,  and  not  the  least  out  of  temper, 
though  somewhat  bruised,  good  naturedly  said, 
"Be  kind  enough  to  throw  my  horse  over, 
and  I  will  be  going." 

Solomon,  his  son,  was  like  his  father  in  two 
respects,  and  unlike  him  in  two.  He  was  of 
gigantic  stature  and  strength,  but  of  inferior 
intellect,  and  of  no  resolution.  He  ran  away 
from  home  when  thirteen  years  of  age,  and 
went  to  sea.  At  seventeen,  being  tired  of 
the  ocean,  he  quitted  the  mariner's  life,  and 
commenced  learning  the  trade  of  a  carpenter. 
Having  worked  at  this  trade  about  thirteen 
months,  he  ran  away  from  his  master,  and  en- 
listed in  the  dragoon  service  for  three  years. 
At  the  expiration  of  two  years  he  deserted, 
and  took  passage  in  a  ship  for  Canada.  He 
was  wrecked  on  a  desolate  part  of  Newfound- 
land, and  nearly  died  of  starvation  before  he 
found  a  human  habitation.  He  at  last  arrived 
in  Canada,  and  remained  there  three  years, 
and  then  returned  to  England,  and  opened  a 
store  in  his  native  town.  Being  soon  wearied 


REV.    CHRISTOPHER    FICKLE.  127 

of  the  confinement  of  business,  he  went  to 
London,  and  for  sometime  worked  in  a  brew- 
ery, then  in  a  dye-house,  and  next  as  a  porter 
at  the  custom  house,  and  finally  he  was  the 
coachman  of  a  nobleman — Sir  Somebody;  (we 
forget  his  name).  From  London  he  went  to 
Sheffield,  where  he  was  engaged  in  a  cutlery 
house.  He  next  went  to  a  small  town  near 
Shrewsbury,  where  he  was  a  deputy  sheriff, 
or  something  of  the  kind.  He  next  went  to 
Manchester,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the 
factories  three  years.  From  Manchester  he 
went  to  Liverpool,  and  opened  a  public  house. 
He,  however,  did  not  succeed  very  well,  and 
in  17 —  he  emigrated  to  America.  On  the 
passage,  about  equidistant  from  Old  and  New 
England,  Christopher  was  introduced  into  this 
world.  Mr.  Solomon  Fickle  settled  in  New 
York  state,  but  died  in  less  than  a  year. 

Rev.  Christopher  Fickle  was  like  his  grand- 
father in  intellect,  like  his  father  in  irresolution, 
like  both  of  them  in  stature,  and  like  neither 
of  them  in  physical  strength.  In  this  last  par- 
ticular lie  was  inferior  to  them  both.  Having 
a  superior  intellect,  his  fickleness  of  character 
did  not  lead  him  quite  such  a  zigzag  course  as 


128  THE    UNIQUE. 

his  poor  father  had  run ;  however,  it  was  zig- 
zag enough. 

We  will  pass  over  the  erratic  race  of  his 
youthful  days,  in  reference  to  his  sports,  his 
school,  his  friends  and  relations.  Suffice  it  to 
say  he  was  curious  and  wayward  enough  to 
please  the  most  eccentric  genius  that  has  ever 
appeared  in  the  shape  of  man.  We  will  speak 
of  him  only  after  he  had  experienced  the  grace 
of  God,  and  was  settled  as  a  minister.  He 
was  engaged  to  be  married  to  four  ladies  be- 
fore he  did  marry  one  ;  and  it  is  said  that  in 
less  than  a  week  after  he  married  that  one,  he 
repented  of  his  choice,  because  he  then  saw 
another  lady  whom  he  thought  he  could  have 
loved  still  better.  His  book  shelves,  tables, 
chairs  and  desk,  in  his  study,  changed  places 
every  morning,  because  he  did  not  like  to  see 
them  in  the  same  spot  two  successive  days. 
Some  affirm  that  the  only  thing  which  occa- 
sioned any  altercation  between  him  and  Mrs. 
Fickle  was,  his  repeated  attempts  to  change 
the  furniture  in  other  parts  of  the  house  from 
place  to  place.  Others  deny  this,  and  contend 
that  there  were  a  diversity  of  matters  which 
produced  pleasant  little  quarrels  and  amiable 
jars  between  them. 


REV.    CHRISTOPHER    FICKLE.  129 

Mr.  Fickle  was  ordained  over  a  church  in 
the  western  part  of  New  York,  where  he  re- 
mained a  year  and  a  half;  and  then,  thinking 
that  he  should  like  the  Great  Valley  better, 
removed  to  Indiana.  In  that  state  he  labored 
in  three  places,  but  finding  many  hardships 
and  privations  to  undergo  in  that  then  newly 
settled  country,  the  cost  of  which  he  had  not 
duly  counted  previous  to  his  going  thither,  he 
became  wearied  and  restless,  and  concluded 
that  the  Southern  country  would  suit  him  better. 

Accordingly  he  removed  to  Alabama,  where 
he  was  the  pastor  of  two  churches,  but  he  did 
not  feel  at  home  with  either  of  them.  He 
could  not  get  along  with  slavery.  He  said 
"notwithstanding  all  the  arguments  the  slave- 
holders adduced  in  behalf  of  their  'divine  insti- 
tution,' he  could  not  make  it  look  right  to  hold 
a  fellow  man  in  bondage,  and  sell  him  as  you 
would  sell  a  brute." 

He  thought  that  he  might  feel  contented 
and  happy  in  the  Middle  States,  and  conse- 
quently took  up  the  line  of  march  for  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  settled  over  a  large  and 
prosperous  church,  and  where  he  remained 
longer  than  he  ever  did  in  any  other  place. 


130  THE    UNIQUE. 

When  he  left  that  state,  he  located  in  New 
Jersey,  where,  however,  he  did  not  tarry  one 
year.  His  next  move  brought  him  into  New 
England,  where  he  was  the  pastor  of  three 
churches ;  one  in  Connecticut,  and  two  in 
Massachusetts.  He  did  not  like  the  Yankees 
much,  "because,"  as  he  said,  "they  cared 
more  for  their  dollars  than  they  did  for  their 
souls." 

From  Massachusetts  he  went  into  New  York 
state  again,  and  is  now  settled  within  thirty- 
seven  miles  of  the  place  where  he  was  ordained. 
He,  however,  does  not  feel  satisfied,  and  is 
thinking  about  going  to  Michigan  or  Ohio. 
He  says  it  is  difficult  for  him  to  determine 
which  of  these  two  fields  presents  the  most 
promising  prospect. 

Some  may  say,  I  cannot  understand  how 
such  a  fickle  sort  of  character  can  be  a  man  of 
gigantic  intellect.  Whether  it  can  be  under- 
stood or  not,  such  is  the  fact.  Mr.  Fickle  is 
a  man  of  splendid  powers  of  mind.  He  can 
write  as  fine  a  sermon,  or  as  able  an  article  for 
the  North  American  Review  or  the  Biblical 
Repository,  as  any  D.  D.  in  the  land.  Some 
may  say,  How  can  he  confine  his  mind  long 


REV.    CHRISTOPHER   FICKLE.  131 

enough  to  one  point  to  prepare  anything  elabo- 
rately ?  Paradoxical  as  it  may  appear,  no 
man  can  study  or  think  more  intensely  for  six 
hours  in  succession,  than  Mr.  Fickle.  After 
going  into  his  study  in  the  morning,  and  chang- 
ing his  book  shelves,  and  table,  and  chairs, 
and  desk  for  the  day,  he  will  sit  down  to  his 
work,  and  scarcely  move  till  dinner  hour,  so 
wrapt  up  will  he  be  in  his  sermon,  or  whatever 
he  may  be  engaged  about.  Through  the  af- 
ternoon and  evening,  however,  during  which 
he  never  pretends  to  study,  he  will  not  have 
the  same  mind  three  minutes  together  about 
anything. 

As  a  preacher,  Mr.  Fickle  is  very  popular. 
He  has  a  full,  clear,  sonorous  voice,  enunciates 
distinctly,  though  he  speaks  with  rapidity ;  is 
entirely  unsophisticated  in  his  manner,  every 
gesture  being  perfectly  easy,  graceful  and  nat- 
ural ;  and  he  delivers  the  messages  of  life  and 
peace  as  if  his  whole  heart  and  soul  were 
bound  up  in  them. 

Notwithstanding  Mr.  Fickle  has  moved  about 
so  much,  he  has  been  very  useful  as  a  minister. 
His  preaching  has  been  blessed  of  God  abun- 
dantly, and  powerful  revivals  have  prevailed  in 


132  THE    UNIQUE. 

many  of  the  places  where  he  has  labored. 
Probably  there  are  but  few  if  any  ministers  in 
the  land,  who  have  baptized  more  converts  ; 
that  is,  ministers  of  his  age,  for  he  is  not  the 
oldest  man  in  the  world  yet.  A  half  century 
has  not  passed  over  his  head. 


DIARY    OF    REV.    MR.    BARMLET.  133 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  DIARY  OF  REV.  BARZIL* 
LAI  BARMLEY. 

Jan.  13.  Preached  this  afternoon  upon 
the  duty  and  privilege  of  family  prayer,  as  I 
have  discovered  that  several  of  our  brethren 
neglect  it.  One  man  says  "  he  cannot  find 
time  to  pray  in  his  family,  because  his  business 
is  so  urgent."  Another  one  says  "he  has  no 
gift  for  prayer;"  and  another,  "that  he  has 
neglected  it  so  long,  that  he  is  now  ashamed 
to  commence  it." 

Jan.  16.  Preached  this  noon  at  the  poor- 
house.  Many  of  the  poor  creatures  were  very 
attentive,  and  some  seemed  much  affected. 

Jan.  22.  Am  very  sorry  to  hear  from  our 
superintendent  that  the  teachers'  meetings 
lately  have  not  been  well  attended.  I  must 
attend  them  myself  after  this,  and  see  if  I  can- 
not get  the  teachers  more  interested  in  them. 

Feb.  9.  Had  a  long  talk  with  br.  M , 

12 


134  THE   UNIQUE. 

to  induce  him  to  speak  and  pray  in  the  confer- 
ence meeting.  He  says  "he  can't  do  it,  be- 
cause he  has  no  gift."  He  acknowledges  that 
he  often  in  political  caucusses  speaks  an  hour ; 
but  poor  man,  he  can  find  no  tongue  to  pray, 
or  to  give  the  word  of  exhortation  in  a  religious 
meeting. 

March.  4.  Attended  the  funeral  of  Mr.  L. 
A  truly  pious  man.  No  doubt  he  has  gone 
home  to  glory. 

March  12.  Preached  this  evening  in 
school-house.  Universalist  interrupted  the 
exercises.  Two  inquirers. 

•April  3.  Had  some  conversation  with  br. 
D.  He  is  much  worked  up,  but  I  trust  a 
little  reflection  will  cool  him. 

•April  11.  Married  two  couples.  Re- 
ceived $3  and  $5.  These  $8  will  more 
than  pay  for  that  wood  Mr.  N.  brought  me 
yesterday. 

May  8.  Br.  B.  called  to  lecture  me 
about  my  long  sermons.  He  seemed  un- 
necessarily excited.  After  he  was  gone,  I 
thought  over  the  different  complaints  my  peo- 
ple make.  They  are  many.  Have  now  been 
here  nearly  five  years,  and  the  following  are 


DIARY    OF    REV.    MR.    BARMLEY.  135 

those  which  I  now  remember,  and  I  mean  to 
put  down  all  I  hear  hereafter,  so  that  when  I 
leave  here,  be  it  sooner  or  later,  I  may  know 
the  sum  total  of  complaints.  I  put  down  the 
complaints  in  the  words  of  the  complainers. 

1.  You  don't  visit  enough. 

2.  You  do  not  study  as  much  as  you  should. 

3.  You  are  confined  to  your  books  more 
than  you  ought  to  be. 

4.  You  preach  too  much  about  election. 

5.  You  hammer   too   much   on   practical 
duties. 

6.  You   preach  too  many  doctrinal   ser- 
mons. 

7.  You  appear  haughty  and  proud. 

8.  You  are  too  reserved  for  our  people, 
and  ought  to  be  more  sociable. 

9.  You  are  too  free  and  chatty  for  a  min- 
ister. 

10.  You  are  too  particular  about  your  dress. 

1 1 .  You  are  sometimes  very  careless  about 
your  dress. 

12.  Your  sermons  are  too  learned. 

13.  Some  of  your  discourses   are   more 
low  and  vulgar  than  our  people  like. 

14.  You  preach  more  than  is  profitable  to 
Christians. 


136  THE    UNIQUE. 

15.  Too  many  of  your  sermons  are  ad- 
dressed to  the  impenitent. 

16.  You  ought  not  to  say  so  much  about 
baptism. 

17.  You  don't  preach  enough  on  baptism. 

18.  You  have  too  much  of  hell-fire  and 
brimstone  and  awful  things  in  your  sermons. 

19.  You  preach  too  often  about  tempe- 
rance. 

20.  You  show  too  little   interest  in   the 
temperance  cause. 

21.  You   hadn't  ought   to    bring   slavery 
into  the  pulpit. 

22.  It .  is   wrong  for  you  not  to  preach 
more  against  slavery. 

23.  Your  sermons  are  too  long. 

24.  You  preach  too  short. 

25.  You  don't  take  interest  enough  in  the 
Sabbath  school. 

26.  You  do  very  wrong  in  voting;  a  min- 
ister has  no  business  to  meddle  with  politics. 

27.  I  am  tired  of  hearing  your  written  ser- 
mons. 

28.  You  ought  not  to  preach  so  much  ex- 
tempore. 

29.  You  have  too  much  action  in  the  pulpit. 


DIARY    OF    REV.    MR.    BARMLEY.  137 

30.  You  holler  too  much  in  preaching,  for 
our  folks  ain't  deaf. 

31.  You  speak  so  faintly  that  the  singers 
can't  always  hear  you. 

32.  You  seem  deficient  in  interest  for  mis- 
sions. 

33.  You  talk  too  extravagantly  for  a  min- 
ister. 

34.  You  love  popularity  more  than  a  min- 
ister should. 

35.  You    hadn't   ought   to    say    anything 
against  Millerism. 

36.  You   ought   to    preach    more    against 
Miller's  delusion,  as  it  is  getting  into  the  church. 

37.  You  are  too  personal  in  your  sermons. 

38.  You  scold  too  much  in  preaching. 

These  are  all  that  I  now  think  of.  Thirty- 
eight.  That  is  a  pretty  large  number.  I 
wonder  if  other  ministers  can  count  up  as 
many. 

May  13.  Had  a  plain,  faithful  talk  with 
deacon  R.  for  neglecting  the  prayer  meeting. 

May  18.     Felt  more  than  ever  convinced, 

from   a   conversation   with   br.  K..,  that   my 

course   in   reference  to  him  has  been  right. 

His  spirit  most  manifestly  proved  that  he  was 

12* 


38  THE    UNIQUE. 

in  the  wrong.  Have  made  his  case  a  special 
subject  of  prayer  this  evening. 

June  6.  Was  sent  for  in  great  haste  to  go 
and  see  a  young  man  who  thought  he  was  near 
death.  Found  that  he  was  a  leading  character 
in  the  club  of  Universalists  in  the  factory  vil- 
lage. Said  "he  found  Universalism  would  not 
do  to  die  by,"  and  desired  me  "to  pray  that 
God  would  have  mercy  upon  him."  Poor 
young  man !  His  burden  seemed  great. 

June  15.  Have  not  had  much  enjoyment 
for  several  days,  being  perplexed  and  harassed 
most  to  death  by  the  Millerites.  Have 
thought  of  two  more  complaints;  viz.,  that  I 
spend  too  much  time  in  certain  families,  and 
am  not  attentive  enough  to  the  deacons.  This 
makes  the  number  forty. 

June  16.  Attended  funeral  of  Mr.  G. 
Died  of  delirium  tremens.  His  oldest  son 
will  probably  go  in  the  same  way,  very  soon. 

June  20.  Exchanged  with  br.  C.  Some 
of  his  people  much  offended  at  my  plainness. 
Said  I  had  no  business  to  preach  so  in  their 
pulpit. 

June  23.  Was  riding  on  the  outside  of  the 
coach  to-day  from to ,  and  as  we 


DIARY   OP    REV.    MR.    BARMLEV.  139 

passed  the  theological  seminary  in ,  the 

driver  said  "he  had  lost  more  than  $100  by 
the  students."  He  said  "they  would  ride  in 
his  coach,  and  say,  'I'll  pay  you  soon,'  and 
that  was  the  last  he  would  hear  of  their  fare." 
He  seemed  to  think  that  it  was  very  ungene- 
rous in  them,  and  I  found  that  it  had  a  tenden- 
cy to  harden  his  mind  against  religion.  I  wish 
theological  students  would  be  more  careful 
about  such  things. 

June  27.  Am  much  tried  with  a  young 
brother,  not  twenty-one  years  of  age,  who  has 
lately  joined  the  church,  and  who  feels  it  his 
duty  to  call  as  often  as  once  a  week  to  give 
me  advice. 

"The  boy  so  troubles  me, 
'Tis  past  enduring." 

Learned  from  him  another  complaint,  viz., 
that  I  am  too  self-willed,  and  unwilling  to  take 
advice.  This  makes  forty-one. 

July  1.  Father  M.  called  again  to  urge 
me  to  preach  on  election.  He  says  "if  I 
don't  preach  about  it  more,  the  young  mem- 
bers wont  understand  it,  and  will  become  Ar- 
minians." 

July  8.       Met   br.    T.    this    morning,    in 


140  THE    UNIQUE. 

Squire  J.'s  office.     He  said,  "I   wish  you'd 
explain  Daniel's  little  horn  next  Sabbath." 

July  16.  Had  a  long  sitting  this  afternoon 
with  br.  N.,  who  felt  it  his  duty  to  talk  with 
me  "solemnly"  as  he  said,  about  my  extrava- 
gant way  of  speaking. 

July  21.  In  church  meeting  this  evening, 
some  of  the  Millerites  who  profess  to  be  sanc- 
tified, manifested  a  spirit  and  temper  which, 
in  any  other  persons,  we  should  say  showed 
human  nature  very  much  unsanctified. 

July  28.  Dr.  Bonesetter  called  to-day, 
to  request  me  to  preach  a  sermon  upon  the 
duties  and  privileges  of  physicians.  He  says, 
"he  can  scarcely  ever  get  to  meeting  more 
than  half  a  day,  because  so  many  more  call 
upon  him  on  the  Sabbath  than  on  any  other 
day."  He  says  "many  professors  of  religion 
put  off  calling  till  the  Lord's  day,  except  in  ca- 
ses of  severe  illness."  Being  superintendent  of 
the  Sabbath  school,  he  says  "  patients  or  no  pa- 
tients, he  is  determined  always  to  be  at  his 
post  there." 

Jlug.  7.  Was  sent  for  to  visit  Mr.  C., 
who  is  very  sick.  For  many  years  he  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Unitarian  church  in  the 


DIARY    OF    REV.    MR.    BARMLEY.  141 

North  Parish.  He  said  "lie  knew  that  lie 
should  not  recover,  and  that  he  felt  the  need 
of  something  more  spiritual  than  Unitarianism." 
Tried  to  show  him  the  way  of  life  through 
a  crucified  Redeemer.  Tried  to  commend 
him  to  God  in  prayer.  He  would  not  allow 
me  to  leave  till  I  promised  to  officiate  at  his 
funeral. 

Aug.  10.  Attended  funeral  of  Mr.  C.  this 
afternoon.  The  house  was  thronged,  and 

most  all  were  Unitarians.  Mr.  ,  the 

minister,  was  not  present.  It  was  to  me  a 
solemn  scene,  and  a  solemn  time. 

Aug.  19.  Was  grieved  to-day  to  hear  that 
our  Millerite  hrother  T.  went  to  the  camp 
meeting  yesterday,  instead  of  attending  his 
own  meeting ;  and  what  is  worse,  that  he  went 
with  his  cart  filled  with  cakes  and  crackers, 
and  sold  them  at  a  higher  price  than  he  does 
at  home.  How  can  this  brother  be  sincere, 
and  thus  break  the  Sabbath  ? 

Jin*.  21.     Preached  this  evening  in  school- 

o  O 

house — a  good  season. 

Aug.  23.  Had  a  talk  with  br.  G.  He 
says  the  reason  why  he  is  so  often  absent  on 
the  Sabbath  is  '•'•ill  health."  He  acknowl- 


142  THE    UNIQUE. 

edged  that  he  labors  harder  on  Saturday  than 
upon  any  other  day.  Poor  man  !  he  has  pe- 
riodical fits  of  sickness — weekly  ill  turns  that 
always  come  on  the  Lord's  day.  Dr.  Bone- 
setter  says,  "There  is  no  medicine  at  the 
apothecary's  shop  that  will  cure  this  Sunday 
illness." 

Jlug.  29.  Mr.  D.  called  this  afternoon.  He 
feels  very  badly.  Says  "he  cannot  sit  in  the 
seats  again  till  some  reparation  is  made."  I 
don't  see  why  it  is  that  there  is  so  much  quar- 
relling among  the  singers.  It  is  strange  that 
singers  don't  agree  better,  for  I  believe  every 
choir  quarrels  more  or  less. 

Aug.  30.  Called  this  morning  to  see  br. 
A.,  who  is  quite  sick,  and  very  low  spirited, 
because  he  thinks  he  has  been  too  covetous, 
and  has  not  given  to  the  cause  of  Christ  so 
much  as  he  ought  to  have  done. 

Sept.  3.  Br.  E.  told  me  this  evening, 
"that  he  feels  hurt  with  the  editor  of  the 
,  and  won't  take  the  paper  any  lon- 
ger, because  there  was  an  article  in  it  last 
week  that  he  don't  like."  I  wonder  how 
many  subscribers  our  religious  journals  would 
have,  if  all  acted  on  the  same  principle  with 


DIARY    OF    REV.    MR.    BARMLEY.  143 

fhis  wise  brother.  I  believe  the  poor  editors 
have  most  as  much  fault  found  with  them  as 
we  poor  ministers.  I  think  they  had  better 
keep  a  list  of  complaints,  and  now  and  then 
publish  them  for  the  edification  of  their  read- 
ers. Found  out  another  complaint  against  me, 
and  that  is,  that  I  drive  too  fast  when  I  ride 
round  to  visit.  This  makes  forty-two. 

Sept.  30.  Have  heard  two  more  com- 
plaints, viz.,  that  I  am  too  great  a  dictator  in 
church  meeting,  and  that  I  pray  too  long. 
These  make  forty-four. 

Oct.  9.  Had  a  plain  talk  this  morning  with 
br.  C.,  about  standing  on  the  meeting-house 
steps,  and  talking  of  the  weather,  crops,  and 
political  news,  and  tried  to  convince  him  that 
it  was  not  proper  on  the  Lord's  day.  He 
said  "he  could  not  see  any  impropriety  in  it." 
He  is  a  singular  kind  of  a  Christian. 

Oct.  16.  Feel  much  discouraged  about 
the  Maternal  Association.  Wife  says,  "there 
were  only  five  mothers  present  this  afternoon, 
and  only  one  of  them  brought  children,  and 
that  one  brought  but  two  out  of  her  five  little 
ones."  It  is  strange,  when  we  hear  so  much 
about  "mother's  affection,"  that  they  don't 


144  THE    UNIQUE. 

feel  interested  to  attend  these  meetings,  and 
take  their  children  with  them,  when  they  know 
their  children  may  derive  so  much  good  from 
them.  I  should  think  they  might  spend  one 
afternoon  in  a  month  for  their  children's  good. 
JVbw.  3.  This  evening  commenced  a  course 
of  lectures  on  the  Pilgrim's  Progress.  Intend 
to  go  through  the  book.  A  large  number 
were  present,  and  appeared  interested. 


LETTER  UPON  EVANGELISM.       145 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


LETTER  FROM   REV.  TOBIAS   SINCERE  TO  REV, 
ASA  AGAR,  UPON  EVANGELISM. 

Brookville,  June  8,  1 843. 
Dear  Br.  Agar  : — Your  favor  of  the  fifth 
came  to  hand  last  evening ;  nnd  as  I  have  no- 
thing of  very  special  importance  to  occupy 
my  time  this  morning,  I  have  seated  myself  to 
answer  your  inquiries  as  touching  evangelism. 
"What  do  you  think  about  evangelism?"  is 
your  first  inquiry.  This,  you  know,  is  a  pretty 
extensive  question,  and  I  should  have  liked 
something  a  little  more  definite.  I  can  assure 
you  I  think  a  great  many  things  about  evan- 
gelism, a  great  many  more  than  I  can  put 
down  on  paper  in  the  compass  of  anything  like 
a  reasonably  long  letter.  However,  in  a  few 
words,  I  think  favorably  of  the  system.  I 
see  nothing  in  the  scriptures  which  militates 
against  the  propriety  of  setting  apart  a  class  of 
ministers  who  shall  .not  settle  as  pastors,  but 
preach  whenever  and  wherever  they  are  wanted. 
13 


146  THE    UNIQUE. 

On  the  other  hand,  they  appear  to  me  to 
favor  the  idea.  I  have  looked  at  that  passage 
in  Ephesians  which  speaks  of  apostles,  evan- 
gelists, pastors,  &c.,  and  I  have  also  turned  to 
some  of  the  commentators,  to  see  what  they 
say  in  reference  to  it ;  and  I  cannot  doubt,  but 
that,  while  some  ministers  were  settled  as  pas- 
tors in  those  primitive  days  of  Christianity, 
others  labored  as  evangelists,  going  hither  and 
thither,  preaching  the  gospel  wherever  Provi- 
dence might  open  the  door. 

Evangelism  seems  to  me  to  be  an  useful  sys- 
tem, and  may  be  made  more  useful  than  it  has 
been.  It  certainly  seems  reasonable  to  sup- 
pose that  ministers  may  do  much  good  without 
being  settled  as  pastors.  There  are  many 
fields  almost  destitute  of  the  preaching  of  the 
gospel,  in  which  a  pious  evangelist,  by  labor- 
ing for  a  season,  may  hope  to  accomplish 
much  good  for  Zion — perhaps  lay  the  founda- 
tion of  a  Christian  church.  How  many  places 
there  are  where  there  are  Christians  enough  to 
form  a  church,  and  yet  where  there  is  no 
church.  Now  pastors,  having  their  own 
churches  to  take  care  of,  cannot  visit  such 
places,  and  remain  long  enough  to  gather  these 


LETTER  UPON  EVANGELISM.        147 

scattered  sheep  together,  and  by  preaching 
and  exhortation  lead  them  to  feel  the  impor- 
tance of  combining  their  energies,  by  uniting 
together  in  the  formation  of  a  church.  But  the 
evangelist  can  do  this,  and  this  he  should  con- 
sider as  a  part  of  his  duty. 

Again,  evangelists  may  do  good  by  sup- 
plying the  pulpits  of  churches  destitute  of  pas- 
tors, till  such  times  as  they  can  procure 
preachers  as  candidates  ;  and  if  circumstances 
are  favorable,  can  hold  meetings  for  successive 
days  with  such  churches. 

Again,  the  evangelist  may  do  much  good 
by  assisting,  for  a  season,  weak  and  feeble 
churches.  Here  is  a  church  unable  to  sup- 
port a  pastor,  and  the  brethren  feel  dispirited, 
and  are  mourning  over  their  low  estate.  Now 
let  a  faithful,  devoted  evangelist  come  among 
them,  and  it  will  be  like  the  "coming  of  Ti- 
tus." He  will  "comfort  those  that  are  cast 
down,"  and  through  his  labors  that  church 
may  arise  and  "  put  on  her  beautiful  garments.1' 
God  may  so  bless  his  work  among  them  that 
the  church  may  be  greatly  increased,  and  be 
abundantly  able  to  support  a  pastor.  Such 
has  been  the  case.  Such  a  result  has  been 
accomplished. 


148  THE    UNIQUE. 

And  then  again,  it  frequently  happens  that 
in  a  season  of  revival  the  pastor  cannot  preach 
and  labor  as  much  as  the  necessity  of  the  case 
demands  ;  and  here  the  evangelist  may  do  good 
by  lending  the  helping  hand,  for  there  cannot 
be  any  reasonable  objection,  under  such  cir- 
cumstances, to  requesting  the  aid  of  the  evan- 
gelist, that  he  may  labor  with  the  pastor  as 
long  as  may  be  deemed  advisable.  Surely, 
this  is  as  well  as  it  is  for  another  pastor  to 
leave  his  own  flock,  and  labor  with  his  brother 
under  such  circumstances.  This  is  often 
done,  and  no  one  objects  to  it.  Why  then 
object  to  the  assistance  of  the  minister  who 
has  no  pastoral  charge  ?  Truly,  it  seems  to 
me  preferable  to  engage  the  latter,  as  he  can 
remain  longer  if  desirable,  than  is  often  possible 
for  the  former. 

And  once  more,  the  evangelist  may  do  good 
by  holding  meetings  of  days  and  weeks  with 
churches  where  he  is  requested  so  to  do.  It 
is  often  the  case  that  a  church  is  anxious  to 
make  some  special  effort,  by  engaging  in  a  se- 
ries of  religious  meetings.  Many  of  the  breth- 
ren feel  it  deeply  impressed  upon  their  minds 
that,  considering  their  situation,  such  a  course 


LETTER  UPON  EVANGELISM.       149 

would  prove  eminently  useful.  They  know 
it  cannot  be  expected  of  their  own  minister  to 
preach  day  after  day,  and  it  is  often  very  dif- 
ficult to  obtain  other  settled  ministers  to  do  it. 
Then  let  the  man  who  is  confined  to  no  church 
come  in  and  work.  Call  in  the  pious,  humble 
evangelist,  and  let  him  preach  day  and  night, 
as  long  as  the  religious  interest  may  justify  it ; 
and  he,  and  the  pastor,  and  the  church,  all 
join  together  heart  and  soul,  in  praying  and  la- 
boring that  sinners  may  be  brought  home  to 
God.  Is  there  not  reason  to  believe  that  a 
prayer  hearing  God  will  listen  to  their  suppli- 
cations, and  abundantly  bless  their  labors  to 
the  praise  of  his  great  and  holy  name  ?  Thus 
I  think  evangelists  may  do  good  by  preaching 
in  destitute  fields,  supplying  the  pulpits  of 
churches  without  pastors,  comforting  and 
strengthening  the  feeble  churches,  assisting 
pastors  in  revivals,  and  by  holding  protracted 
meetings  with  such  churches  as  may  request 
their  services.  Therefore  I  am  in  favor  of 
the  system  of  evangelism.  I  believe  it  is  and 
may  continue  to  be  a  very  useful  system. 

I  think,  however,  it  might  be   well  to   have 
something  more  systematic  about   this   matter. 
13* 


150  THE    UNIQUE. 

1  have  thought  that  it  might  be  advisable  for 
an  association,  or  conference,  or  some  asso- 
ciated body  of  churches  and  ministers,  to  em- 
ploy an  evangelist  to  labor  within  its  bounds, 
going  here  and  there,  as  his  services  might  be 
required,  he  receiving  a  fixed  compensation,  to 
be  contributed  by  the  churches  comprising 
the  said  body.  In  this  way  the  evangelist 
would  be  responsible  to  the  body  ;  and  the 
complaints,  now  so  frequent,  that  he  is  making 
too  much  money,  would  cease,  as  his  salary 
would  be  determined  by  the  churches  repre- 
sented in  that  body. 

You  next  ask,  "What  is  the  reason  that  so 
many  ministers  are  opposed  to  evangelism  ?" 
To  this  inquiry  I  must  answer  that,  of  course, 
I  know  not  all  the  reasons,  but  I  will  mention 
those  reasons  which  I  have  heard  expressed 
by  some  ministers,  and  those  which  any  one 
might  evidently  infer  from  the  conversation  of 
others,  in  connection  with  the  spirit  and  tem- 
per they  manifested. 

1.  Some  ministers  are  opposed  to  the  sys- 
tem of  evangelism,  because  they  conscien- 
tiously think  that  the  ultimate  results  thereof 
will  prove  disastrous  to  the  stability  of  the 


LETTER  UPON  EVANGELISM.      15i 

|t 

churches.  These  ministers,  however,  as  a 
general  thing,  object  to  all  protracted  meetings, 
and  think  that  the  only  way  for  the  church  to 
be  built  up  strongly  is,  to  move  along  without 
making  any  special  effort.  Many  very  good 
brethren  have  imbibed  this  idea  to  a  greater  or 
less  extent. 

2.  Some  are  opposed  to  it  because  they 
consider  it  a  new  thing,  and  they  have   made 
up  their  minds   to  oppose  everything  NEW  in 
the  church.      They  are   dead  set  against  any 
fcmrf,  sort,  or  species  of  innovation,  and  desire 
that  everything  in  the  church  may  remain  just 
as  it  was  ten,  twenty,  or  thirty  years   ago.     I 
cannot  describe  these  brethren  better  than  by 
applying  to   them    individually   the    words    of 
Crabbe. 

"Habit,  with  him,  was  all  the  test  of  truth. 
'  It  must  be  right ;  I've  done  it  from  my  youth.' 
Questions  he  answered  in  as  brief  a  way, 
'It  must  be  wrong;  it  was  of  yesterday.'" 

3.  Others  are  opposed  to  it  because  they 
are    afraid   of  too   much    excitement.      They 
seem  to  have  a  sort  of  monomaniac   dread  and 
horror  of  anything  like  excitement  in  religion. 


152  THE    UNIQUE. 

While  they  never  hint  that  there  is  the  least 
impropriety  in  being  excited  in  reference  to 
many  of  the  affairs  of  this  life,  they  deem  it 
the  height  of  fanaticism  to  be  the  least  excited 
for  the  salvation  of  precious  souls  that  are  in 
the  road  to  endless  ruin. 

4.  Some  are  opposed  to  it  because  they 
do  not  exercise  discrimination  enough  to  dis- 
cern the  difference  between  a  system,  and  cer- 
tain men  who  abuse   that  system.      Say  they, 
"Such   and    such   evangelists    are    vain    and 
puffed  up  ;  they  are  assuming  and  dictatorial ; 
therefore  I  will  have  nothing  to  do  with  evan- 
gelism."    It  would  be  just  as  reasonable  for  a 
man  to  say,  such  and  such  ministers  are   vain 
snd  puffed  up  ;  they  are  assuming  and  dictato- 
rial ;   therefore  I  will  have  nothing  to   do  with 
religion.     However  improperly  certain  evan- 
gelists, or  certain   settled   ministers   may  have 
conducted,  that  argues  nothing  against  evan- 
gelism or  religion. 

5.  Others  are  oppose.d   to  it  because  the 
individuals  converted   under  the  preaching  of 
certain  evangelists,  did   not  manifest   that  hu- 
mility and  modesty  so  becoming  to   converts, 
but  appeared   pert  and  forward.     Jlere,  too, 


LETTER  UPON  EVANGELISM.       153 

a  little  discernment,  one  might  suppose,  would 
lead  any  minister  to  perceive  that  the  fact  of 
some  evangelists  putting  forward  the  converts 
too  much,  proved  nothing  against  evangelism. 
The  mistakes  of  the  preachers  should  not  be 
set  down  against  the  systeiv,  any  more  than 
the  mistakes  of  pastors  should  he  set  down 
against  settling  pastors. 

G.  Some  are  opposed  to  it  because  they 
are  afraid  that  their  church  will  sometime  de- 
sire the  labors  of  an  evangelist,  and  if,  under 
his  preaching,  there  should  be  a  revival,  they 
themselves  will  not  have  the  credit  of  it. 
They  seem  jealous  lest  any  one  should  do 
good  among  their  own  people  but  themselves. 
They  act  as  if  they  would  rather  that  the  sin- 
ners in  their  own  congregation  should  go  to 
hell,  than  be  converted  through  the  instrumen- 
tality of  any  one  else. 

7.  Others  are  opposed  to  it  because  they 
are  afraid  that  evangelists  will  make  too  much 
money — get  rich  too  fast.  It  seems  to  fret 
them  amazingly,  that  a  man  who  preaches 
twice  a  day  for  a  month,  besides  attending 
other  meetings,  should  receive  a  few  dollars 
more  than  they  receive  for  a  month's  labor  as 
pastor. 


154  THE    UNIQUE. 

8.  Some  are  opposed  to  it  because  this 
distinguished  preacher  and  that  learned  profes- 
sor are  opposed.  They  have  no  mind  of  their 
own  about  evangelism,  perhaps  scarcely  know 
enough  to  judge  of  the  merits  of  the  system  ; 
but  they  oppose  it  with  all  the  strength  they 
do  have,  because  great  men  oppose  it. 

Lastly.  Others  are  opposed  to  it  because 
they  are  afraid  that  the  churches  will  imbibe 
the  erroneous  idea  that  they  cannot  have  a  re- 
vival without  an  evangelist. 

If  pastors  and  evangelists  preach  the  truth, 
and  impress  on  the  minds  of  the  people  the 
fact  that  all  their  dependence  for  a  blessing  is 
on  the  spirit  of  God,  there  will  be  no  ground 
for  this  fear.  If  they  do  not  so  preach,  then 
the  church  may  fall  into  this  error,  in  the  same 
way  that  they  would  fall  into  any  other  error, 
where  the  opposing  truth  was  not  preached. 

Having  thus  stated  what  I  suppose  are  the 
reasons  which  influence  many  of  our  minister- 
ing brethren  in  their  opposition  to  evangelism, 
and  having  thrown  in  a  remark  or  two  gratis 
about  some  of  those  reasons,  I  proceed  to 
your  third  inquiry.  "What  should  an  evan- 
gelist especially  guard  against,  when  he  holds 


LETTER  UPON  EVANGELISM.       155 

a  meeting  with  a  church  for  days  and  weeks  ?" 
I  should  say, 

1.  He   should    sedulously   guard    against 
saying   or  doing  anything   which  would   have 
the  slightest  tendency  to  weaken   the   hands  of 
the   pastor.       Such,   for  instance,   as   making 
any  sort  of  reference   to  him,  either  publicly 
or  privately,  which  in  any  way  might  be   con- 
strued as  disparaging  to   him  ;  or  listening  to 
any  little   complaint  that  some   of  his  people 
may  injudiciously  make ;   or  doing  anything  in 
the  course  of  the  meeting  that  will  look  like 
reflecting  on  his  judgment,  and  thereby  rather 
lower   him    in    the  estimation  of  his   people. 
The  evangelist  cannot  be  too  careful  in  guard- 
ing against  everything  of  this    kind  ;    and  he 
should  use  all  his  influence   to   strengthen   the 
pastor  in  the  affections  of  his  people,  and  settle 
him  more  firmly  in  his  post. 

2.  He  should  diligently  guard   against  the 
appearance    of  anything    dictatorial,    anything 
like  lording   it   over   God's  heritage,  as   if  he 
came  among  them  to  command  them   about, 
they  being  the  soldiers,   and  he   the   captain, 
rather  than   as   an  humble  minister jof  Christ, 
seeking  their  good,  and  the  salvation  of  their 
families. 


156  THE    UNIQUE. 

3.  He  should  guard  as  much  as  possible 
against  the  appearance  of  egotism.     I  know 
that  it  is  more   difficult  for  an  evangelist  to 
avoid  this,  than  it  is  for  a  pastor,  on  account 
of  the   manner  in   which  it  is  often  necessary 
for  the  former  to  preach.      Still  there  is  a  way 
of  appearing  unnecessarily  egotistical ;  this  he 
should  watchfully  shun. 

4.  He    should    particularly    guard    against 
preaching  as   if  the  work  of   God  depended 
upon  himself.     I  am  fearful   that  some   evan- 
gelists have  preached  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
leave  the  impression  quite  vividly  on  the  minds 
of  the  audience,  that    they,  rather   than    the 
Holy   Spirit,  were   converting  sinners.      The 
evangelist  cannot  be  too  guarded  in  keeping 
before  the  rninds  of  the  people  the  fact  that  he 
himself  is  nothing,  and  that  all  his  labors  will 
be  entirely  in  vain  unless  God  gives  the   in- 
crease. 

Thus  I  believe  the  evangelist  should  es- 
pecially guard  against  these  four  particulars. 

To  your  last  inquiry,  "Do  you  think  it 
proper  for  an  evangelist  to  insist  upon  bapti- 
zing the  converts  where  there  is  a  pastor  ?" 
I  answer,  certainly  not.  That  belongs  to  the 


LETTER  UPON  EVANGELISM.       157 

pastor,  and  no  evangelist  lias  any  right  even  to 
request  such  a  thing.  If,  however,  as  has 
sometimes  been  the  case,  there  should  be  so 
many  converts  ready  for  baptism  at  any  one 
time,  that  the  pastor  should  request  the  evan- 
gelist to  assist  him  in  the  ordinance,  I  see  no 
objections  to  his  complying. 

Thus  have  I  answered  your  queries,  as  far 
as  I  can  conveniently  in  a  letter,  and  have 
made  a  pretty  long  letter  of  it  too.  So  you 
really  think  of  giving  up  your  charge,  and 
turning  evangelist !  Well,  I  am  not  much  sur- 
prized, for  I  somewhat  expected  such  might 
be  the  case,  from  a  conversation  I  had  with 
your  friend,  the  Rev.  William  Blithestone, 
whom  I  met  at  Shirland,  a  few  weeks  since. 

I  trust  that  you  are  under  the  influence  of 
the  Divine  Spirit.  I  presume  you  have 
thought  the  subject  over  and  over,  and  have 
prayed  much  in  reference  to  it.  No  doubt 
you  have  "counted  the  cost."  You  know 
you  will  meet  with  opposition  from  many 
Christians  and  ministers  who  are  now  kind  and 
friendly  towards  you.  My  prayer  is  that  the 
Lord  would  bless  you,  and  make  you  a  bles- 
sing to  others,  whether  you  remain  as  the  pas- 
14 


158  THE    UNIQUE. 

tor  of  your  church,  or  enter  upon  this  new 
field  of  labor.  Be  so  kind  as  to  drop  me  a 
line  soon,  and  let  me  know  what  fault  you  find 
with  any  of  the  sentiments  herein  contained. 

Say  to  deacon  Zellebrag,  if  you  please,  that 
I  received  the  interesting  pamphlet  he  sent  me, 
and  am  much  obliged.  My  kind  regards  to 
Mrs.  A  gar. 

Your  true  friend  and  brother  in  Christ, 

TOBIAS  SINCERE. 


HORSE-SHED    CONVERSATION.  159 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

HORSE-SHED  CONVERSATION. 

"A  righteous  man,"  says  the  scripture, 
"regardeth  the  life  of  his  beast ;"  and  it  is  al- 
ways pleasant,  when  we  ride  to  the  house  of 
God  upon  a  stormy  day,  to  see  that  righteous 
men  have  erected  convenient  horse-sheds,  that 
the  noble  beast  which  has  safely  drawn  us  to 
the  very  door  of  the  sanctuary,  may  find  a 
covert  from  the  storm,  while  we  are  in  the  tab- 
ernacle, endeavoring  to  worship  God. 

These  sheds,  however,  are  often  used  for  a 
purpose  widely  different  from  that  which  was 
contemplated  by  their  benevolent  builders ; 
that  is,  they  are  often  used  on  Sabbatli  noons, 
between  meetings,  as  a  place  of  resort  for  cer- 
tain brethren  who  love  to  congregate  there, 
and,  in  a  kind  of  fault-finding  manner,  talk  over 
the  affairs  of  the  church  and  minister.  These 
horse-shed  caucusses  generally  consist  of  from 
three  to  five  brethren,  and,  unless  the  interval 
is  very  long,  they  are  usually  kept  up  from  the 


160  THE    UNIQUE. 

close  of  the  morning  to  the  commencement  of 
the  afternoon  service. 

It  was  a  pleasant  Sabbath  noon  in  August, 
1839,  when  br'n.  Philip  Greenville,  Lysander 
Burton,  and  Eliphalet  Watson  went  into  a 
horse-shed  back  of  the  old  Congregational 
meeting-house  in ,  and  engaged  in  the  fol- 
lowing interesting  and  edifying  confab.  Philip 
Greenville,  addressing  himself  to  Lysander 
Burton,  said, 

How  did  you  like  the  sermon  this  morning  ? 

Burton.  Not  very  much  ;  I've  heard  many 
better  ones.  What  did  you  think  of  it  ? 

Greenville.  My  opinion  is  pretty  much 
like  yours  ;  I  think  it  was  poor  enough. 

Watson.     So  do  I. 

G.  I  wish  Mr.  Gunn  would  leave  us,  for 
he  knows  there  are  some  in  the  church  dissat- 
isfied with  him.  I  shouldn't  think  any  man 
would  want  to  stay  with  a  people  unless  they 
were  unanimous  in  wishing  him  to. 

B.  I  tell  you  what  it  is  ;  it  isn't  such  an 
easy  matter  to  get  rid  of  a  minister  when  you 
don't  like  him,  as  some  people  imagine. 

G.  That's  a  fact,  or  else  we  shouldn't  be 
compelled  to  hear  such  sermons  as  we  have 


HORSE-SHED    CONVERSATION.  161 

heard  this  morning.  I  declare  it  is  too  bad 
that  we  can't  have  a  minister  we  like.  I  wish 
Mr.  Gunn  would  have  compassion  upon  us, 
and  resign. 

W.  I  think  we  shall  have  a  change  before 
long.  We  are  not  the  only  ones  in  the  church 
who  feel  discontented.  I  heard  br.  Harrison 
say  yesterday,  "he  was  most  tired  of  our  min- 
ister." 

B.  There  are  not  many,  though,  who  feel 
as  we  do. 

W.  There  may  be  more  than  you  think 
for. 

B.  I  know  pretty  well  what  is  the  state  of 
feeling  in  the  church,  for  I  have  talked  with 
many  of  the  brethren  about  Mr.  Gunn,  and  I 
find  precious  few  of'  'em  that  sympathize  with 
me. 

W.  Why  not  do  something  about  it  in 
some  of  our  church  meetings  ?  Why  not 
break  the  ice,  and  let  the  brethren  know  how 
we  feel  ?  and  that  will  encourage  others,  who 
now  keep  their  thoughts  to  themselves,  to 
speak  out  plainly. 

B.  Dear  me !  Br.  Watson,  the  time 
hasn't  come  yet  for  such  a  movement  as  that. 
14* 


162  THE    UNIQUE. 

G.  Oh  no — by  no  means.  If  we  should 
do  that,  we  should  have  the  church  about  our 
ears  amazing  quick,  I  tell  you. 

W.     What  then  shall  we  do  ? 

G.  Why  we  must  worry  along  the  best 
way  we  can,  till  more  feel  as  we  do.  If  we 
should  say  a  word  about  a  change  of  ministers 
in  a  church  meeting,  all  the  old  maids  and  old 
women  in  the  parish  would  be  aroused,  and  if 
we  didn't  get  our  hair  pulled,  I'm  mistaken. 
They  would  be  mad  enough  to  tar  and  feather 
us,  for  they  think  there  never  was  such  a  man 
as  Mr.  Gunn. 

_B.  How  strange  it  is  that  people  can  be 
so  bound  up  in  him.  Why  can't  they  see  that 
he  isn't  the  man  for  us  ? 

G.  Why,  he  is  a  very  pleasant  man,  you 
know,  and  that  goes  a  great  ways  with  many 
people.  It  is  astonishing  how  Christians  act 
about  this.  If  they  like  their  pastor  as  a  man, 
they  think  that's  enough,  whether  he  is  useful 
as  a  minister  or  not.  I  wonder  they  don't  put 
feeling  aside,  and  have  more  regard  for  the  in- 
terests of  religion.  It's  so  selfish!! 

B.  Yes — selfish  enough.  If  /  liked  a 
minister  ever  so  much,  /  shouldn't  want  him 
to  stay  unless  he  was  doing  good. 


HORSE-SHED    CONVERSATION.  163 

W.  I  s'pose  many  of  the  people  think  he 
is  doing  good. 

B.  Well  I  don't  see  as  he  is,  if  they  do 
think  so,  do  you,  br.  Greenville  ? 

G.  No — -I'm  sure  I  don't.  I  think  this  is 
a  good  field  for  the  right  sort  of  a  man,  but  I 
don't  believe  Mr.  Gunn  will  ever  do  anything 
here. 

W.  Nor  I  either — but  I  did  think  so  when 
he  was  first  settled  among  us. 

G.  So  did  I — but  he  preached  a  great 
deal  better  then  than  he  does  now.  He  don't 
seem  like  half  the  man  he  used  to. 

B.  You  can't  make  some  of  our  folks  be- 
lieve that. 

G.  I  know  it — because  they  are  so  taken 
Up  with  him  they  think  there  can't  be  any  fault 
in  him.  But  if  they  would  let  reason  work 
Instead  of  feeling,  they'd  see  quick  enough 
that  he  isn't  the  man  he  once  was. 

W.  I  heard  a  man  saying  the  other  day  he 
thought  Mr.  Gunn  was  improving  ever)  year. 

G.     A  church  member  ? 

IV.     Yes  ;  it  was  br.  Hitchborne. 

B.  Well,  I  don't  care — for  one,  I  say  br. 
Hitchborne  and  all  the  rest  on  'em  may  think 


164  THE    UNIQUE. 

as  they  are  a  mind  to,  but  I  am  heartily  sick 
of  Mr.  Gunn's  preaching,  and  I  am  sometimes 
a  good  mind  to  ask  my  dismission,  and  join 
over  at  the  West  Parish. 

G.  Oh  no,  don't  do  that ;  there  must  be  a 
change  here  sometime  or  other.  I  don't  be- 
lieve the  church  will  be  satisfied  to  go  on  in 
this  way  many  years  longer.  Besides,  if  you 
should  join  at  the  West  Parish  you  wouldn't 
feel  at  home  there,  because  they  keep  up  such 
a  fuss  all  the  time  about  abolition.  I'd  rather 
mope  along  as  we  do  here  than  be  in  that  hot 
bed. 

W.  Yes — hold  on,  br.  Burton.  There 
will  be  a  change  here  I  know,  for  you  will 
find- 
Here  this  exceedingly  sensible  and  profita- 
ble conversation  was  broken  up  by  the  ap- 
pearance of  good  deacon  Kremlington  ;  who 
came  to  request  br.  Waison  to  go  into  the 
meeting-house  to  instruct  a  class  in  the  Sab- 
bath school,  the  teacher  of  which  was  absent 
that  day.  Br.  Watson,  not  wishing  to  refuse, 
immediately  went  into  the  meeting-house ;  and 
then  deacon  Kremlington  persuaded  the  other 
two  brethren  to  go  to  the  prayer  meeting, 


HORSE-SHED    CONVERSATION.  165 

which  was  held  every  Sabbath  noon  in  a 
neighboring  house,  for  such  persons  as  did  not 
go  home,  and  were  not  engaged  in  the  school. 
Philip  Greenville,  Lysander  Burton,  and 
Eliphalet  Watson,  for  some  reason,  which  the 
reader  need  not  care  about  knowing,  were 
"out  of  sorts,"  as  some  people  say,  with  their 
pastor,  the  Rev.  Jacob  Gunn,  and  were  doing 
all  they  could  to  alienate  the  minds  of  others 
from  him.  We  will  not  say  what  was  the  final 
result  of  their  efforts,  but  simply  remark,  that 
when  a  minister  discovers  the  fact  that  more 
or  less  of  the  members  of  his  church,  instead 
of  being  in  the  prayer  meeting,  or  Sabbath 
school  on  Sunday  noons,  are  engaged  in  horse- 
shed  conversations,  he  had  better  "keep  an 
eye  to  the  windward ;"  he  "must  look  out  for 
squalls  ;"  the  day  of  trouble  is  at  hand. 


166  THE    UNIQUE. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

OBADIAH  KEEDLE. 

"  A  nondescript  he  is, 
Of  such  an  one  you  never  heard  before." 

In  a  country  town  of  New  England,  where 
about  every  other  man  was  either  a  Major,  or 
Colonel,  or  Captain,  or  Squire,  there  dwelt  a 
certain  genius  who  was  known  simply  as  Oba- 
diah  Keedle,  or  Mr  Keedle.  This  gentleman 
had  seen  forty-three  summers  and  forty-two 
winters,  (at  the  time  we  refer  to  him)  and  had 
been  a  member  of  a  Christian  church  twenty- 
two  years.  We  shall  not  attempt  to  say  what 
kind  of  a  man  Mr.  Keedle  was,  for  the  best 
reason  in  the  world,  and  that  is,  we  cannot. 
In  him  were 

"  Centred  such  strange  extremes," 
that  it  would  utterly  defy  all  the  powers  that 
we  possess,  to  put  down  on  paper  a  descrip- 
tion of  his  character.  His  fellow  townsmen, 
however,  very  freely  expressed  their  opinions 
concerning  him.  Some  said  "he  was  an  odd 


OBADIAH    KEEDLE.  167 

Wan  ;"  others,  "that  he  was  a  curious  man  ;" 
others,  "that  he  was  a  penurious  man  ;"  others, 
"that  he  was  fickle  minded;"  others,  "that 
he  was  a  hard  man;"  and  others,  "that  he 
knew  none  too  much."  We  will  state  some 
things  about  Mr.  Keedle,  and  then  leave  the 
reader  to  form  his  own  opinion  concerning  his 
peculiarities  of  mind,  his  traits  of  character;  in 
short,  to  judge,  if  he  can,  what  kind  of  a  man 
he  was. 

Mr.  Keedle  had  very  much  to  say  about 
ministers  and  churches.  He  was  never  in  the 
slightest  degree  backward  in  expressing  what 
he  thought  about  the  talents  of  ministers,  and 
their  preaching,  doctrinal  views,  habits,  ex- 
travagance or  economy,  behavior  out  of  the 
pulpit,  &c.  He  kept  a  curious  book,  labelled 
ministers'  book,  in  which  he  wrote  down  all 
sorts  of  things,  for  and  against  ministers. 
What  particular  object  he  had  in  view  in  keep- 
ing this  book  and  some  others,  no  one  could 
tell,  as  he  had  never  given  satisfactory  answers 
to  any  questions  relative  to  the  said  books. 
He  seemed  to  take  pride  in  showing  these 
books,  at  least  so  it  appeared  to  us,  when  he 
favored  us  with  a  view  of  their  contents.  He 


168  THE    UNIQUE. 

was  so  kind  as  to  loan  us  these  books,  with 
the  understanding  that  we  might  take  as  many 
extracts  from  them  as  we  saw  fit.  Of  this 
permission  we  availed  ourselves,  and  copied 
nearly  a  third  of  the  ministers'  book,  and  very 
freely  from  the  others.  As  some  persons  may 
feel  interested  to  read  some  of  these  extracts, 
we  eive  the  following;  from  the  ministers'  book. 

O  O 

He  had  made  out  a  list  of  preachers,  arranged 
thus. 

1.  "Forcing  preachers,  who  preach  as  if 
they  could  force  people   to  repentance.     We 
should  suppose  they   were   commissioned   by 
the  Almighty  to  make  Christians.      Thunder 
and  lightning,  storm  and   tempest,  we  should 
think,  were  all  at  their  command  to   slay  the 
rebellious  who  will  not  repent. 

2.  Censor   preachers,    who    preach   as   if 
God  had  given  them  the  commission  of  cen- 
sors.    Forever  censuring   the  church  for  un- 
faithfulness, and  forever  censuring  dying  sin- 
ners for  remaining  in  sin. 

3.  Scolding   preachers,    who    instead    of 
preaching  peace    and  love,  scold   all  the  time, 
just  as  if  the  church  had   abused   them,  and  as 
if  sinners  could  be  scolded  into  contrition. 


OBADIAH    KEEDLE.  169 

4.  Fighting   preachers,    who   are   forever 
preaching  terror,  and  using  all  the  harsh  words 
they  can  find  in  the  Bible,  and  all  others  they 
can  think  of. 

5.  Prosing   preachers,    who    prose    over 
nicely    written  essays.       Good  compositions, 
but  beauty  of  frost,  as  Robert  Hall  says. 

6.  Sleepy  preachers,  who  are   always  lul- 
ling their  hearers  into  refreshing  slumbers. 

7.  Apologizing    preachers,    who    always 
say,  'brethren  I  am  persuaded  better  things  of 
you,  though  I  thus  speak.'      Don't  mean  you 
exactly.     You    are  not  the  worst  sinners   in 
the   world.     You   are    pretty  good.      Cannot 
think  such  refined  people  can  be  very  bad. 

8.  Trembling  preachers,  who  preach  as  if 
frightened  out  of  their  wits.     Look  when   in 
the  pulpit  as  if  they   were  afraid    some    one 
was  coming  to  hale  them  to  prison.      Scarce- 
ly dare  to  say  hell. 

9.  Long-winded  preachers.      10.  Bluster- 
ing.      11.    Doctrinal.      12.    Practical.      13. 
Elegant.      14.   Pretty.      15.    Eccentric.     16. 
Lazy.      17.   Monotonous       18.  Heavy.      19. 
Frothy.     20.   Allegorical.     21.    Plain.      22. 
Metaphysical.     23.  Experimental.      24.    Tn- 

15 


170  THE    UNIQUE. 

teresting.  25.  Humble.  26.  Convincing. 
27.  Exhortatory.  28.  Didactic.  29.  Awa- 
kening,. 30.  Conscience-troubling.  31.  And 
the  last,  Christlike  preachers." 

Here  are  thirty-one  kinds  of  preachers,  and 
to  each,  more  or  less  remarks  similar  to  those 
given  to  the  first  eight,  and  to  each,  there  was 
appended  the  name  of  one  or  more  ministers, 
who  were  considered  as  samples  of  the  kind. 
Many  of  these  ministers  we  are  acquainted 
with,  and  we  believe  some  of  them  would 
laugh  very  heartily  if  they  could  get  a  sight  of 
Mr.  Keedle's  list,  and  see  what  sort  of 
preachers  he  considers  them.  He  had  the 
names  of  150  ministers  on  this  list. 

How,  some  may  inquire,  could  he  have 
heard  so  many  different  preachers  ?  When- 
ever the  pastors  in  his  town  exchanged  with 
ministers,  whom  he  had  never  heard  preach, 
he  avails  himself  of  those  opportunities  to  hear 
such  ministers.  He  often  visits  the  cities  of 

and ,  and  always  arranges  his  plans 

to  include  the  Sabbath  in  his  visit,  and  invari- 
ably hears  three  different  preachers  each  time. 
Thus,  since  he  commenced  his  book,  which 
was  fifteen  years  ago,  he  has  heard  many  dif- 
ferent ministers. 


OBADIAII    KEEDLE.  171 

In  another  place,  he  has  the  following 
arrangement  of  what  he  considers  the  chief 
sins  of  our  ministers. 

1.  "Envy  towards  other  ministers. 

2.  Evil  speaking  of  brethren.     Inuendoes 
and  insinuations  against  them. 

3.  Unhallowed    ambition    to    be    thought 
great  men. 

4.  Popularity  seeking.      Two  kinds,     1. 
The  applause  of  the  great.     2.    The  applause 
of  the  multitude. 

5.  Lording  it  over  God's  heritage. 

6.  Time-serving  obsequiousness. 

7.  Spiritual  pride." 

In  another  place  the  following  :  "Many 
young  ministers  know  nothing  of  human  na- 
ture, and  yet  they  think  they  know  that  and 
every  think  else,  because  they  have  studied 
Latin,  Greek,  and  Hebrew. — Have  been 
through  college  and  theological  school,  and 
yet  are  so  inexperienced,  and  have  so  little 
common  sense,  that  they  are  often  saying  with 
a  pompous  air,  I'll  do  this  ;  /'//  not  do  that ; 
/  would  not  have  a  church  do  so  ;  my  people 
shall  do  this  ;  my  people  shall  not  do  that. 
How  little  do  they  know  of  human  nature  to 
talk  in  this  way." 


172  THE    UNIQUE. 

Again:  "Rev.  Mr. ,  an  orthodox  con- 

gregationalist  minister,  of  the  city  of ,  told 

me  that  Rev.  Mr.  of  the  same  city,  and 

same  denomination,  being  a  good  French 
scholar,  is  in  the  habit  of  translating  the  best 
French  sermons,  and  preaching  them  to  his 
people  as  his  own.  That  seems  to  me  like 
deception." 

Again:  "Mr.  preached  for  us  to- 
day. Never  heard  him  before — I  have  put 
him  down  among  my  exhortatory  preachers. 
He  is  not  the  greatest  man  in  the  world." 

Once  more :  "  Last  Sabbath  in  Boston, 

heard  Mr.  ,  the  great  controversialist, 

preach  at  Mr. 's  church.  The  sermon 

of  this  half  Ishmaelite  was  very  good.  I  say 
half  Ishmaelite,  because  his  hand  seems  to  be 
against  every  man,  whether  every  man's  hand 
is  against  him  or  not."  Mr.  Keedle  had 
another  book  which  contained  all  the  anecdotes 
of  ministers  he  had  ever  heard  ;  and  in  it, 
there  were  many  very  curious  and  interesting 
things.  We  should  like  to  give  extracts  from 
it,  but  our  limits  forbid. 

He  had  a  third  book,  labelled  church-book, 
from  which  we  should  be  pleased  to  make 


OBADJAH    KEEDLE.  173 

many  extracts,  but  three  must  suffice.  In  this 
book  he  says,  "  The  prevailing  sins  in  the 
church  at  the  present  day,  are  covetousness, 
spiritual  coldness,  evil  speaking  or  slander  or 
backbiting,  standing  aloof  from  the  pastor,  and 
unbelief."  Again  :  "  Every  church  in  city 
and  country,  think  they  are  in  peculiar  circum- 
stances, and  need  a  peculiar  minister.  Every 
church  says  they  need  a  man  of  talents — we 
need  a  great  man — Doctor  such  a  one  would  do 
for  us — but  they  seldom  say,  we  need  a  very 
pious,  humble  man.  I  know  of  two  churches, 
that  each  called  two  D.D.'s,  and  each  had  at 
last  to  take  up  with  ministers  who  are  not 
I).  D.'s,  and  perhaps,  never  will  be." 

And  again  the  following,  which  certainly  con- 
tains much  truth  :  "  A  great  trouble  in  our 
churches  at  the  present  day,  is,  lack  of  knowl- 
edge concerning  the  tests  of  our  faith.  Many  are 
so  ignorant  of  what  the  church  believe,  that 
instead  of  being  able  to  defend  her  doctrines, 
they  cannot  even  tell  what  they  are.  The 
pastor  seldom  preaches  upon  doctrine,  and 
there  is  no  catechetical  course  of  instruction 
to  indoctrinate  the  younger  members,  and  the 
consequence  is,  they  remain  year  after  year  in 
15* 


174  THE    UNIQUE. 

the  church  without  increasing  their  knowledge 
of  doctrinal  points.  Such  persons  may  sus- 
tain unblemished  characters,  and  may  pray 
and  exhort  with  zeal,  but  they  are  not  rooted 
and  grounded  in  the  faith,  and  therefore  are 
easily  led  into  error  even  by  pious  enthusiasts. 
We  do  not  want  head  knowledge  without 
piety,  but  we  do  want  it  with  piety.  We 
need  both  in  the  church.  We  need  enlighten- 
ed Christians,  who  not  only  can  give  a  reason 
for  the  hope  within  them,  but  can  tell  what 
they  believe,  and  defend  their  faith  by  the 
word  of  God." 

Perhaps  one  reason  why  Mr.  Keedle  had 
so  much  to  say  about  ministers  and  churches, 
was,  that  he  might  hear  what  others  would  say, 
so  that  he  could  gather  greater  varieties  for 
these  books  of  his. 

Another  thing  that  we  will  mention  about 
Mr.  Keedle  is  this  ;  he  was  a  great  reader. 
He  had  a  library  of  about  200  volumes,  and  a 
very  well  selected  library  it  was  too.  We 
have  seen  libraries  of  more  volumes,  that  did 
not  contain  as  many  choice  books  as  Mr. 
Keedle's.  We  noticed  John  Howe,  Robert 
Hall,  Chillingworth,  Charnock,  Doddridge, 


OTtADIAIl     K.EEIH.1..  175 

nnd  several  other  old  friends  on  his  theolog- 
ical  shelf.  He  said  "Hall  and  Doddridge 
\vere  his  favorites."  We  noticed  several  of 
the  British  classics,  and  among  these  lie  point- 
ed to  Johnson  as  the  one  he  u  liked  to  read 
best."  We  were  amused  at  one  of  his  re- 
marks, which  was  this,  "  That  if  Johnson  had 
been  a  minister,  he  would  have  been  much 
like  John  Howe."  He  had  some  twenty 
volumes  of  Poetry,  including  Milton,  Cowper, 
Crahbe,  Burns,  Scott,  Thomson  and  Pollok, 
and  some  others.  "Cowper  and  Burns," 
said  he,  "  suit  my  taste  better  than  any 
others." 

He  occasionally  did  something  himself  in 
the  way  of  poetry.  He  has  written  quite  a 
long  upoem,"  as  he  calls  it,  upon  "death  and 
the  pale  horse,"  but  we  believe  we  will  not 
inflict  upon  the  reader  any  extracts  from  it. 

The  greater  portion  of  the  200  volumes  in 
his  library,  Mr.  Kecdle  has  read  through. 

We  now  say  of  Mr.  Keedle,  that  he  was 
very  careful  to  inform  his  pastor  of  every  thing 
he  heard  against  him.  He  had  one  of  those 
consciences,  which  have  sometimes  been  de- 
nominated morbid,  and  consequently  felt  it  his 


176  THE    UNIQUE. 

duty  to  do  many  things,  which  other  Chris- 
tians did  not  feel  it  their  duty  to  do.  Con- 
scientiously did  he  feel  it  his  duty  to  tell  his 
pastor  every  thing,  no  matter  how  trifling, 
that  he  heard  in  the  way  of  complaint.  For 
instance,  if  he  heard  any  one  say,  our  minister 
does  not  visit  enough,  or  preaches  too  long, 
or  prays  too  loud,  he  feels  it  his  duty  to  go 
immediately  to  his  house,  and  tell  him,  and 
then  talk  with  him  seriously  about  it.  In  this 
way,  it  must  be  confessed,  he  harassed  his 
poor  pastor  more  than  a  little. 

Another  thing :  Mr.  Keedle  always  told  his 
minister  very  plainly  what  he  thought  about 
him  ;  and  as  he  thought  many  things  about  him, 
he  had,  of  course,  many  things  to  tell  him. 
He  would  go  to  him,  and  say,  /  do  not  think 
you  do  right  about  such  a  matter.  /  think 
you  ought  to  do  thus.  He  felt  it  his  duty  to 
tell  his  pastor  what  he  thought  about  certain 
affairs,  which  the  good  man  considered  was 
not  exactly  his  business.  For  instance,  he 
at  one  time  called  upon  him  to  inform  him  of 
the  fact  that  he  thought  his  children  were 
dressed  too  expensively  for  a  minister's  chil- 
dren. At  another  time  he  talked  with  him 


OBADIAH    KEEDI.E.  17< 

very  seriously  because  he  thought  that  he  did 
not  rise  sufficiently  early  in  the  morning.  "/ 
f/mifc,"  said  he,  "that  you  will  be  much  more 
useful  if  you  get  up  earlier."  In  this  way,  too, 
he  troubled  his  pastor  almost  beyond  endurance. 
Again :  Mr.  Keedle  was  considered  by  his 
brethren  as  being  very  hard  upon  converts, 
when  they  related  their  religious  experience 
before  the  church.  He  always  insisted  upon 
their  explaining  the  doctrine  of  election  ;  that 
is,  expressing  those  views  of  it  which  he  en- 
tertained ;  and  if  they  could  not  do  so,  he 
could  not  vote  in  their  favor.  He  would  ask 
them  such  questions  as  the  following.  "  Which 
is  first,  faith  or  repentance  ?  What  is  justifi- 
cation ?  Are  you  willing  to  be  damned  ?  Do 
you  believe  in  particular  redemption  ?  Do 
you  merit  salvation  if  you  believe  in  Christ? 
What  is  the  difference  between  conversion  and 
regeneration  ?*  How  does  the  Spirit  convince 
of  sin  ?  How  do  you  show  that  it  is  right  in 
God  to  elect  some  to  eternal  life,  and  leave 
others  to  perish  r" 

*  Mr.  Keedle  believed  that  conversion  was  the  act 
of  the  creature,  and  regeneration  the  act  of  God. 


178  THE    UNIQUE. 

And  still  again :  Mr.  Keedle,  till  he  became 
a  Millerite,  was  exceedingly  anxious  that  the 
church  should  be  very  efficient  in  reference  to 
missions,  education,  and  the  Sabbath  school. 
He  attended  every  missionary  concert,  and 
would  read  the  last  intelligence  from  the  dif- 
ferent mission  stations,  and  talked,  and  ex- 
horted, and  prayed,  and  did  all  he  could  to 
awaken  an  interest  among  his  brethren  in  this 
cause,  equal  to  his  own.  He  exerted  himself 
also,  in  every  way  he  could,  for  the  Educa- 
tion Society.  He  was  very  severe  on  the 
church  because  they  did  so  little  for  this  cause. 
Although  he  was  somewhat  tardy  about  giving, 
as  a  general  thing,  no  agent  ever  found  him  re- 
luctant to  give  liberally  to  the  Mission  or 
Education  Societies,  till  he  became  a  Miller- 
ite. As  for  the  Sabbath  school,  he  did  more 
for  it  than  any  other  ten  members  of  the  church 
united.  He  would  let  nothing  prevent  him 
from  meeting  his  class,  and  he  was  a  very  ex- 
cellent and  interesting  teacher ;  at  least,  such 
was  the  testimony  of  all  his  scholars.  He  was 
punctual  at  the  Sabbath  school  concert ;  and 
many  are  the  times  that  he  has  searched  the 
town,  from  one  end  to  the  other,  to  hunt  up 
new  scholars. 


OBADIAH    KEEDI.E.  179 

Finally,  inconsistent  as  it  may  seem,  Mr. 
Keedle  was  ready  for  every  new,  exciting 
thing  that  came  along.  When  anti-masonry 
came  along,  lie  went  into  it  at  once,  and  was 
earnest  to  have  every  mason  excluded  from 
the  church.  lie,  however,  could  not  carry 
this  point.  When  the  temperance  movement 
was  made,  he  entered  into  it  heart  and  soul ; 
and  soon,  through  his  unwearied  exertions, 
the  church  became  a  temperance  church. 

When  anti-slavery  came  along,  he  drove 
into  it  immediately,  and  soon  became  one  of 
the  strongest  and  fiercest  abolitionists  in  the 
town.  For  some  time  he  could  not  prevail  on 
the  church  to  act  in  reference  to  this  subject, 
but  finally  he  succeeded,  and  they  passed  a 
vote  "that  thev  would  not  allow  a  slaveholdins; 

*  O 

minister  to  enter  their  pulpit,  nor  would  they 
commune  with  slaveholders  or  their  apolo- 
gists." 

The  next  thing  that  attracted  his  attention 
was,  perfection  or  sanctification,  such  as  is  ad- 
vocated at  Oberlin.  He  heard  a  man  preach 
on  this  doctrine,  and  he  fell  in  with  it  at  once ; 
and  it  was  not  a  week  before  he  was  sanctified. 
Then  he  was  very  anxious  that  all  his  brethren 


THE    UNIQUE. 

"should  secure  the  same  blessing  that  he  had 
obtained  ;"  and  in  every  meeting  he  zealously 
exhorted  them  to  seek  for  sanctification. 

And  last  of  all,  Millerism  came  along,  and 
soon  numbered  him  amongst  its  converts.  He 
heard  three  lectures,  and  then  embraced  this 
delusion.  He  speedily  became  the  most  de- 
cided and  active  Millerite  in  the  church,  and 
even  went  so  far  as  to  lecture  some  in  the 
neighboring  towns  upon  the  subject. 

His  zeal  for  missions,  education,  and  the 
Sabbath  school  now  died  away  ;  and  the  only 
things  that  would  untie  his  purse-strings  were, 
Millerite  lectures  and  Millerite  books.  It  is 
true  he  continued  to  pay  his  pew  tax,  but  he 
would  subscribe  nothing  towards  his  pastor's 
salary,  because  "he  didn't  preach  the  second 
advent  doctrine  of  1843."  The  last  thing  we 
knew  of  him  was,  that  he  had  refused  to  com- 
mune with  the  church,  because  they  had  voted 
"that  the  Millerites  should  no  longer  preach 
in  their  meeting-house."  Whether  his  next 
move  will  carry  him  among  the  Mormons  or 
not,  time  will  show.  Here  endeth  the  narra- 
tive of  the  indescribable  Obadiah  Keedle. 

"A  man  so  various  that  he  seemed  to  be 
Not  one,  but  many  men's  epitome." 


CERTAIN  MEMBERS  OF  CHURCHES.  181 


CHAPTER  XX. 


(T.KTAIM  MEMBERS  OF  CERTAIN  CHURCHES. 

Colonel  Henry  Bluinford,  a  member  of  an 
Orthodox  Congregationalist  church  in  Massa- 
chusetts, was  a  large  and  somewhat  portly  man. 
He  was  called  the  finest  looking  man  in  his 
town,  and  appeared  to  great  advantage  on 
horseback,  in  his  regimentals ;  and  it  would 
not  be  slandering  the  Colonel,  to  say  that  he 
evidently  felt  considerable  pride  in  managing 
a  high-spirited  charger.  Some  of  his  brethren 
thought  there  was  too  much  of  a  martial  air 
about  him,  and  that  he  cared  a  little  too  much 
about  military  matters  for  a  Christian.  It  must 
be  acknowledged  that  he  did  appear  to  enjoy 
the  din  of  the  muster  field  full  as  much  as  he 
ought,  but  still  he  was  a  very  good  member  of 
the  church,  a  much  better  member  than  many 
others. 

He  was  regular  at  meeting,  never  made  any 
trouble  for  his  minister,  and  was  always  ready 
16 


182  THE    UNIQUE. 

to  do  his  part  in  a  pecuniary  point  of  view. 
He  was  worth  about  $10,000,  and  gave  $35 
a  year  towards  the  salary,  and  never  complained 
that  his  minister  received  too  much.  He  had 
made  himself  a  life  director  of  the  American 
Bible  Society,  and  a  life  member  of  the  Amer- 
ican Tract  Society.  No  agent  ever  left  his 
house  without  obtaining  something  more  than 
his  good  wishes.  He  took  the  Boston  Record- 
er, Missionary  Herald ,  and  several  other  publica- 
tions, and  was  never  dunned  for  his  subscription. 

The  Colonel  had  one  bad  habit ;  he  would 
stand  on  the  meeting-house  steps  while  the 
people  were  passing  out.  Some  said  "he  did 
this  to  look  at  the  ladies;"  others  said  "he 
did  it  to  give  the  ladies  an  opportunity  to  look 
at  him." 

Nehemiah  Nettleville  was  the  greatest  talker 
in  a  Presbyterian  church  in  the  state  of  N.  York, 
and  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  take  a  part  in  every 
meeting,  although  several  of  his  brethren  thought 
he  was  mistaken  about  his  duty  in  this  respect. 
He  was  worth  not  far  from  $20,000,  and  paid 
$25  a  year  towards  the  salary.  He  sometimes 
gave  a  little  to  foreign  missions,  but  never  to 
any  other  object.  He  would  not  listen  to  any 


CERTAIN    MEMBERS    OF    CHURCHES.        183 

agent,  "because,"  said  he,  "men  have  no 
business  to  go  round  among  the  churches,  ur- 
ging them  to  give  to  the  different  societies." 
He  talked  much  about  the  "many  sacrifices  he 
made  for  the  cause  of  Christ,"  and  found 
much  fault  with  the  salary  that  was  paid  his 
pastor,  declaring  "that  the  church  was  unable 
to  pay  so  much."  He  took  the  New  York 
Evangelist,  but  never  paid  for  it  till  the  bill 
was  sent. 

Thomas  Walkeen  was  a  member  of  a 
Methodist  church  in  Maine ;  and  cheerfully 
did  he  do  all  in  his  power  for  the  interests  of 
that  church.  He  was  punctual  at  all  the  meet- 
ings, and  labored  hard  to  induce  all  his  breth- 
ren and  sisters  to  act  from  principle  about  at- 
tending, and  not  from  mere  impulse  of  feeling. 
He  always  carried  tracts  in  his  hat,  that  he 
might  have  them  ready  to  give  on  every  suita- 
ble occasion.  He  was  a  kind-hearted,  liberal 
soul,  an  efficient  and  interesting  class  leader, 
and  was  always  on  hand  to  assist  his  minister 
in  any  labor  of  love.  He  took  the  Zion's 
Herald,  and  always  paid  for  it  in  advance. 

Captain  Charles  G.  Sumerton  was  a  member 
of  a  Baptist  church  in  Massachusetts,  and  was 


184  THE    UNIQUE. 

considered  by  his  townsmen  as  a  "man  who 
lived  up  to  his  profession."  He  was  a  very 
decided  temperance  man,  and  heartily  took 
hold  of  every  good  cause  that  came  along. 
He  was  a  blacksmith,  and  by  the  strength  of 
his  arm  had  accumulated  $1000.  He  paid 
$25  towards  the  salary,  which  he  thought 
ought  to  be  increased,  as  he  said  "he  was 
fearful  that  it  did  not  comfortably  maintain  his 
good  minister."  He  took  the  Christian  Watch- 
man, Christian  Reflector,  Baptist  Magazine 
and  Sabbath  School  Treasury,  all  of  which  he 
invariably  paid  for  in  advance.  Although  he 
could  not  give  like  a  rich  man,  he  never  shrank 
from  giving  what  he  could  to  every  good  ob- 
ject. He  had  a  large  soul,  and  devised  liberal 
things.  He  was  one  of  nature's  noblemen, 
both  in  personal  appearance  and  spirit ;  and 
grace  had  made  him  what  nature  never  could 
have  made  him — a  faithful  and  fearless  soldier 
of  the  cross. 

Major  Daniel  Kimbrose  was  a  member  of 
an  Orthodox  Congregationalist  church  in  Ver- 
mont. He  was  not  a  very  spiritual  Christian, 
and  was  very  much  engrossed  in  politics  ;  so 


CERTAIN    MEMBERS    OF    CHURCHES.        185 

much  so  that  he  seemed  to  have  but  little  time 
to  take  care  of  his  heart,  or  to  attend  to  the 
active  duties  of  a  Christian. 

He  grieved  his  brethren  by  attending  politi- 
cal caucusses,>when  they  thought  he  ought  to 
have  been  with  them  in  the  vestry,  praying. 
He  was,  however,  a  very  pleasant  and  affable 
gentleman,  and  generous,  as  some  would  say, 
to  a  fault.  He  was  very  kind  to  his  minister, 
and  scarcely  a  week  passed  but  that  he  sent 
some  substantial  present  to  his  house.  If  an 
agent  called  upon  him,  he  was  sure  to  receive 
a  liberal  donation  without  being  long  detained. 
Some  said  "he  gave  to  get  rid  of  them,"  but 
charity  will  set  that  down  to  the  account  of 
slander. 

Nathaniel  R.  Buxton,  a  member  of  a  Baptist 
church  in  Pennsylvania,  was  a  very  mean  man. 
Though  worth  some  $6000  or  $8000,  he 
never  paid  more  than  four  dollars  a  year 
towards  the  salary.  He  was  mean  in  all  his 
dealings,  so  much  so  that  he  had  acquired  the 
charming  and  envied  name  of  mean  JVaf.  It 
is  said  that  his  father,  who  had  made  much 
money  from  working  a  quarry,  was  just  like 
the  son. 

16* 


186  THE    UNIQUE. 

"  The  father  too,  a  sordid  man, 
Nor  love  nor  pity  knew, 
Was  all  unfeeling  as  the  rock 
From  whence  his  riches  grew." 

But  be  this  as  it  may,  the  son  was  undoubt- 
edly the  meanest  man  in  the  town.  In  the 
church  he  was  continually  lamenting  that  so 
much  money  should  be  spent  for  the  salary, 
repairs  on  the  meeting-house,  singing,  sexton's 
services,  oil,  fuel,  &c. ;  and  his  whole  aim 
seemed  to  be,  to  contrive  how  the  church 
should  get  along  with  the  least  expense.  He 
took  the  Baptist  Record  for  two  or  three 
years,  and  then  his  name  was  cut  off  from  the 
list  of  subscribers  because  he  did  not  pay  for 
it.  It  is  needless  to  say  this  man  did  not  en- 
joy religion. 

Darius  P.  Crumpton  was  a  curious  sort  of  a 
man,  belonging  to  an  Episcopal  church  in 
Rhode  Island.  He  entertained  some  ultra 
views  for  a  churchman,  and  would  have  made 
some  trouble,  had  it  not  been  for  the  firmness 
of  the  Rector,  who  was  a  very  pious  man. 
A  monthly  contribution  was  taken  up  in  this 
church,  for  a  specified  purpose ;  and  it  was 
noticed  that  on  the  Sabbath  afternoon  when  it 


CERTAIN    MEMBERS    OF    CHURCHES.          187 

occurred,  lie  was  never  present.  Whether  he 
gave  any  reason  for  this  half-day,  monthly  ab- 
sence or  not,  we  are  not  able  to  say.  The 
more  pious  portion  of  the  church  were  much 
grieved  with  the  course  he  pursued  in  refer- 
ence to  an  unpleasant  political  excitement  that 
once  took  place  in  Rhode  Island. 

John  Ringdale  was  a  consistent  and  useful 
member  of  a  Methodist  church  in  New  Jersey. 
He  felt  an  unusually  deep  interest  in  the  Sab- 
bath school,  and  no  man  labored  more  inde- 
fatigably  than  he  did  to  promote  its  prosperity. 
He  was  very  particular  to  have  his  own  chil- 
dren invariably  attend  ;  and  if  the  weather  was 
too  stormy  for  them  to  walk,  he  cheerfully 
harnessed  his  horse  to  his  covered  wagon,  and 
drove  them  to  the  school.  Of  these  children, 
during  one  year,  only  one  of  them  was  absent 
a  single  Sabbath,  and  that  Sabbath  she  was 
confined  to  her  bed  with  an  attack  of  the  croup. 
No  member  of  the  church  obtained  half  as 
many  new  scholars  as  Mr.  Ringdale  did. 

Arthur  Mildredge,  a  member  of  an  Ortho- 
dox Congregationalist  church  in  New  Hamp- 
shire, was  a  very  humble  and  sincere  Christian  ; 
a  man  who  loved  to  pray .  He  was  worth  no 


188  THE    UNIQUE. 

property,  being  a  day  laborer,  and  literally 
supported  his  family  by  the  sweat  of  his  brow ; 
and  yet  this  man  paid  ten  dollars  a  year  towards 
his  pastor's  salary,  and  never  hinted  that  he 
thought  he  ought  to  pay  less.  There  was  no 
member  of  the  church  whose  prayers  and  ex- 
hortations in  the  meetings  were  more  accepta- 
ble than  his.  He  spent  the  first  day  of  every 
month  (except  when  it  occurred  on  the  Sab- 
bath, and  then  the  second)  in  going  round 
among  the  impenitent  people  of  the  town,  for 
the  purpose  of  conversing  with  them  about  re- 
ligion, and  giving  them  tracts. 

Deacon  Isaiah  Luvarin,  of  a  Baptist  church 
in  Rhode  Island,  was  a  man  who  "used  the 
office  of  a  deacon  well,  and  was  purchasing  to 
himself  a  good  degree  and  great  boldness  in 
the  faith  which  is  in  Clirist  Jesus."  He  was 
highly  respected  as  an  honest  man,  and  it  had 
passed  into  a  sort  of  proverb  through  the  place, 
"that  deacon  Luvarin's  word  was  as  good  as 
a  genuine  bank  note."  He  was  engaged  in 
business,  but  his  income  was  not  large,  amount- 
ing to  something  like  $500  a  year ;  one  quarter 
of  which,  at  least,  was  given,  in  one  way  and 
another,  to  the  cause  of  religion.  He  was  the 


CERTAIN    MEMBERS    OF    CHURCHES.          189 

Superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  school,  which 
made  him  a  life  member  of  the  New  England 
Sabbath  School  Union,  as  a  token  of  their  re- 
spect and  affection. 

George  Delton  was  a  young  man,  and  had  been 
a  member  of  a  Presbyterian  church   in  the  city 

of ,  three  years.     He  was  an  eminently 

growing  Christian,  and  had  far  surpassed,  in  gifts 
and  graces, many  of  his  brethren  who  were  much 
older  in  years,  and  who  for  a  much  larger  period 
had  been  professors  of  religion.  While  he  felt 
interested  in  every  good  cause,  the  moral  con- 
dition of  seamen  more  especially  called  forth 
his  sympathies  and  efforts.  He  spent  much 
time  on  the  wharves,  not  as  an  idler  or  loiterer, 
but  for  the  purpose  of  conversing  with  the  sai- 
lor about  his  soul.  Many  are  the  hours  that 
he  has  spent  in  the  cabin  and  in  the  forecastle, 
on  his  knees,  praying  for  the  mariner.  Prob- 
ably he  has  spent  more  money  to  purchase 
tracts,  and  testaments,  and  Bibles  for  seamen, 
which  he  would  give  with  his  own  hand,  than 
any  other  man  of  his  age  in  the  whole  country. 
He  has  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  through 
his  efforts  many  of  the  sons  of  the  ocean  have 
been  persuaded  to  join  the  temperance  society  ; 


190  THE    UNIQUE. 

have  been  reclaimed  from  the  paths  of  the  de- 
stroyer ;  have  laid  up  money  which  before  they 
threw  away  ;  and  have  abandoned  every  vicious 
habit.  More  than  this,  he  has  reason  to  re- 
joice in  the  fact  that  God  has  honored  him 
as  the  instrument  of  leading  some  of  these  brave 
and  hardy  men  to  the  Saviour  of  sinners ;  and 
they,  now,  instead  of  being  a  curse  among  the 
people  wherever  they  go,  are  ready,  as  faithful 
Christians,  to  proclaim  the  words  of  salvation 
in  every  port  whither  the  winds  of  Heaven 
may  waft  them. 

Grace  Laugton  joined  the  Episcopal  church 
in  the  city  of ,  realizing  that  she  was  ta- 
king a  solemn  and  responsible  step.  The  work 
of  the  Divine  Agent  upon  her  soul  had  been 
most  deep  and  thorough.  Subdued  in  spirit, 
broken  in  heart,  a  pardoned  penitent,  she  con- 
secrated all  her  powers  to  God,  without  the 
least  reserve.  Beautiful  and  graceful  in  per- 
son, brilliant  and  attractive  in  conversation, 
and  possessing  a  mind  of  a  superior  order,  ex- 
panded and  refined  by  the  most  perfect  educa- 
tion that  Our  highest  female  seminaries  can 
boast,  it  might  well  be  said  of  her, 

"  Grace  was  in  all  her  steps,  heaven  in  her  eye, 
In  all  her  gestures  dignity  and  love." 


CERTAIN    MEMBERS    OF    CHURCHES.         191 

She  was  capable  of  exerting  a  powerful  in- 
fluence for  good,  especially  in  the  circle  of  her 
intimate  friends,  which  embraced  a  large  num- 
ber of  the  most  genteel  and  accomplished 
young  ladies  in  the  city.  And  such  an  influ- 
ence she  did  exert.  Although  these  young 
ladies  thought  too  much  of  dress  and  fashion, 
they  could  not  but  admire  the  becoming  sim- 
plicity Miss  Laugton  displayed  after  her  con- 
version ;  and  she  so  won  upon  their  feelings 
by  manifesting  the  kindest  and  most  tender 
Christian  interest  in  their  behalf,  that  finally 
she  was  instrumental  of  inducing  some  of  them 
to  renounce  the  world,  and  to  walk  with  her 
in  the  ways  of  pleasantness  and  peace.  Her 
influence,  however,  was  not  confined  to  these 
young  friends.  The  Sabbath  school  and  every 
female  society  connected  with  her  own  church, 
and  some  other  benevolent  organizations,  felt 
the  effects  of  her  interest,  prayers,  and  labors. 
Laughed  at,  it  is  true,  by  some  of  her  fashion- 
able acquaintances,  she  went  forward  in  the 
Christian  path,  deviating  neither  to  the  right 
nor  to  the  left,  and  proved  before  the  world 
that  she  was  what  she  professed  to  be — a  child 
of  God. 


192  THE    UNIQUE. 

Miss  Martha  Ann  Belding  was  a  member  of 

a  Presbyterian    church  in   the  city  of  . 

She  was  not  a  useful  Christian.  The  follies 
of  a  fashionable  circle  seemed  dearer  to  her 
heart  than  the  cause  of  the  Redeemer.  She 
was  not  a  teacher  in  the  Sabbath  school,  be- 
cause she  could  not  be  dressed  in  season  ;  and 
she  found  it  inconvenient  to  attend  a  little  meet- 
ing of  praying  sisters  once  a  week,  in  the  af- 
ternoon. Her  health  was  so  delicate  that  she 
did  not  dare  to  expose  herself  by  going  to  the 
weekly  lecture,  or  prayer  meeting  of  the 
church,  but  she  did  dare  to  go  to  a  fashionable 
party,  and  there  remain  till  after  midnight, 
where, 

"Practised  to  lisp,  and  hang  the  head  aside," 

she  could  "faint  into  airs,"  and  then  most 
gracefully  and  expressively  "languish  with 
pride."  Practically,  she  was  not  acquainted 
with  the  meaning  of  pity,  or  charity.  She 
would  read  a  foolish  novel,  and  weep  a  profu- 
sion of  morbid  tears  over  the  fictitious  sorrows 
of  some  faultless  heroine,  but  haggard  Want 
and  perishing  Hunger  might  appeal  to  her 
heart  in  vain.  She  was  very  severe  in  her 


CERTAIN    MEMBERS    OP    CHURCHES.         193 

remarks  upon  other  Christians,  and  was  by  no 
means  free  from  something  very  much  like 
slander.  Just,  or  not  just,  she  was  called  by 
more  than  one,  "a  tattling,  slanderous  old 
maid." 

Mrs.  Catharine  Skinflint,  a  member  of  an 
Orthodox  Congregationalist  church  in  Massa- 
chusetts, was  a  very  curious  sort  of  a  Christian. 
She  was  both  master  and  mistress  in  her  house, 
for  she  had  gained  such  a  control  over  her 
husband,  Squire  Nicholas  Skinflint,  as  he  was 
called,  that  he  did  not  dare  to  say  a  word  in 
the  house  without  her  permission.  He  was 
always  obliged  to  tell  her  where  he  was  going, 
which  was,  sometimes,  a  vexation  to  him. 
But  there  was  no  help  for  it,  as  he  did  not 
have  the  moral  courage  to  say  to  his  Kate 
what  Shakspeare  represents  one  of  his  charac- 
ters as  saying  to  his  spouse  of  the  same  name  : 

"  But  hark  you,  Kate, 

I  must  not  henceforth  have  you  question  me 
Whither  1  go." 

Mr.  Skinflint  was  also  obliged  to  give  her  the 
detail  of  his  business  transactions  every  night ; 
and  when  he  had  been  fortunate,  her  words 
were  sweeter  than  honey ;  but  when  he  had 
17 


194  THE    UNIQUE. 

been  unfortunate,  they  were  more  bitter  than 
wormwood. 

Mrs.  Skinflint  had  a  very  peculiar  faculty 
of  appearing  exceedingly  glad  to  see  company 
when  she  was  not  glad.  She  would  urge  call- 
ers to  stay,  with  repeated  assurances  of  the 
happiness  it  would  afford  her ;  but  as  soon  as 
they  left,  would  say,  in  a  very  snarly  manner, 
"  I'm  glad  they  are  gone  ;  I  wonder  folks  don't 
know  better  than  to  stay  so  long,  and  keep 
me  from  my  work  to  hear  their  gabble." 
Thus,  to  them,  her  "words  were  smoother 
than  oil,"  at  the  same  time  "the  poison  of 
asps  was  under  her  lips."  Mrs.  Skinflint  said 
"it  was  a  burning  shame  their  minister  should 
have  such  a  great  salary  ;"  and  she  would  allow 
Mr.  Skinflint  to  pay  only  six  dollars  a  year 
towards  it,  though  he  was  one  of  the  richest 
men  in  the  church.  Notwithstanding  all  this, 
when  her  pastor  called  upon  her,  this  lady 
would,  in  a  subdued  voice,  and  with  many 
fears,  lament  that  she  did  not  enjoy  religion. 

Mrs.  Mehitable  Rondout  was  a  member  of 
an  Episcopal  church  in  Connecticut.  She 
was  accustomed  to  visit  friends  in  New  York 
city,  at  least  as  often  as  once  a  year;  and  she 


CERTAIN    MEMBERS    OP    CHURCHES.         195 

undertook  to  ape  in  her  town  what  she  had 
seen  and  heard  in  that  great,  bustling  Babylon. 
She  occasioned  many  remarks  on  account  of 
her  dress,  and  the  furniture  of  her  house. 
She  told  fibs,  by  sending  word  to  the  door 
that  she  was  not  at  Aowe,  when  she  was.  This 
very  much  perplexed  her  husband,  who  was  a 
plain,  common  sense  Christian ;  and  when  she 
told  him  "that  people  in  New  York  did  so, 
and  that  it  only  meant  she  was  engaged,"  he 
very  innocently  replied,  "Why  don't  you  then 
say  engaged,  so  that  no  one  will  mistake  your 
meaning  ?" 

Mrs.  Rondout  did  not  govern  her  children 
as  a  Christian  mother  should,  but  indulged 
them  in  all  their  whims  and  caprices,  "be- 
cause," as  she  said,  "she  could  not  bear  to 
restrain  the  little  dears."  The  children  were 
all  captains  in  the  domestic  establishment,  acted 
the  part  of  petty  tyrants  over  their  mother, 
quarrelled  with  each  other  more  times  than 
there  were  hours  in  each  day,  and  made  the 
house  one  continued  scene  of  confusion,  noise 
and  riot,  from  sunrise  to  sunset.  It  was  really 
amusing,  as  well  as  lamentable,  to  see  these 
minor  editions  of  human  beings,  strutting  about 


196  THE    UNIQUE. 

in  childish  despotism,  fully  conscious  that 
they,  and  they  only,  were  lords  of  the  manor. 
If  Mr.  Rondout  ever  undertook  to  make  one 
of  them  obey,  she  would  at  once  interfere, 
and  say,  "My  dear,  don't  be  severe  on  the 
little  darlings."  Mrs.  Rondout,  however, 
was  a  very  kind-hearted  woman,  and  was  never 
guilty  of  slandering  her  neighbors.  She  was 
neither  a  tattler,  nor  a  busybody  in  other  peo- 
ple's matters. 

Widow  Rachel  Guilford,  a  mother  in  Israel, 
had  been  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist church  in  the  city  of .  She  was  very 

much  like  the  widow  Anna,  mentioned  in  the 
second  chapter  of  Luke,  only  she  was  not 
"eighty  four  years"  of  age,  and  did  not  re- 
main in  the  "temple  night  and  day,"  but  was 
always  found  in  the  temple  when  there  was  any 
meeting  there.  She  loved  the  house  of  God, 
and  desired  to  see  it  always  kept  in  order ;  and 
therefore,  whenever  it  was  in  the  least  out  of 
order,  she  would  cheerfully  work  with  her 
own  hands,  as  she  said,  "to  put  matters  to 
rights,  because  it  was  not  meet  that  the  sanc- 
tuary should  either  be  defiled  with  dirt,  or  re- 
main neglected."  She  loved  the  ministers  of 


CERTAIN    MEMBERS    OF    CHURCHES.         197 

Christ ;  the  rich  and  the  poor  Christian ;  the 
high  and  the  low  ;  all  in  whom  she  saw  the 
image  of  her  Saviour  reflected.  She  enjoyed 
uninterrupted  peace  of  mind,  because  her  heart 
\\asfixed  on  God.  She  trusted  in  him  at  all 
times,  and  therefore  was  like  "Mount  Zion, 
which  cannot  be  removed." 

This  devoted  sister  was  a  very  useful  Chris- 
tian in  many  ways.  She  felt  the  deepest  so- 
licitude for  the  welfare  of  the  church,  and  did 
everything  in  her  power  to  promote  its  inter- 
ests. She  was  always  at  the  female  prayer 
meeting,  and  regularly  instructed  a  Bible  class 
of  young  ladies  in  the  Sabbath  school.  She 
originated  the  Maternal  Association  in  the 
church,  and  spared  no  pains  to  make  its  meet- 
ings interesting  and  profitable  to  the  mothers 
who  attended ;  and  she  would  always  relate 
some  appropriate  little  anecdote,  to  impress 
some  moral  lesson  upon  the  minds  of  the  chil- 
dren present.  Wherever  she  went,  if  you 
looked  into  her  bag,  you  would  see  a  variety 
of  tracts  there  choicely  adapted  for  general 
distribution.  She  sincerely  sympathized  with 
all  who  were  in  affliction,  and  was  the  benev- 
olent friend  of  the  needy  and  the  suffering. 
17* 


198  THE    UNIQUE. 

She  was  well  acquainted  with  the  habitations 
of  the  poor — the  wretched  hovels  of  a  great 
city. 

"In  Misery's  darkest  cavern  known, 
Her  useful  care  was  ever  nigh, 
Where  hopeless  Anguish  poured  his  groan, 
And  lonely  Want  retired  to  die." 

The  coldest  storms  of  winter  did  not  prevent 
this  godly  woman  from  visiting  the  "darkest 
caverns  of  misery,"  to  administer  to  the  ne- 
cessities of  the  distressed  ;  and  while  she  pro- 
vided food  for  the  dying  body,  she  did  not 
forget  that  that  body  was  merely  a  temple  for 
a  soul,  which  would  famish  without  spiritual 
sustenance.  Her  pastor  frequently  remarked 
"that  he  believed  if  the  Saviour  was  now  on 
earth,  he  would  say  of  her,  as  he  once  said  of 
another,  '  She  has  done  what  she  could. ' ' 


CONVERSATION.  199 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

CONVERSATION  BETWEEN  REV.  MARK  COLE- 
\VOOD  AND  REV.  EZEKIEL  J.  MELROSE. 

It  was  a  stormy  and  blustering  Sabbath 
morning  in  March,  184 — ,  when  Rev.  Mr. 
Colewood  drove  through  the  muddy  road, 
from  Galetown  to  Yorkland,  to  exchange  with 
Rev.  Mr.  Melrose.  After  performing  service 
thrice  in  the  sanctuary,  he  drove  back  to  Gale- 
town,  through  the  same  muddy  road,  in  the 
rain  and  darkness  of  the  evening.  Mr.  Mel- 
rose  had  gone  to  Galetown  on  the  preceding 
day,  intending  not  only  to  preach  there,  but  to 
remain  with  his  friend  Mr.  Colewood  till  the 
following  Wednesday.  Mr.  Colewood  being 
desirous  of  spending  as  much  time  as  possible 
with  Mr.  Melrose,  thus  rode  to  and  from 
Yorkland  on  the  Sabbath. 

Some  would  say  this  was  right  under  the 
circumstances,  and  others  would  say  it  was 
wrong.  All  that  we  feel  bound  to  say  about 
the  matter  is  this  :  "  Let  each  man  be  fully  per- 


200  THE    UNIQUE, 

suaded  in  his  own  mind,"  and  act  in  similar 
situations  as  conscience  may  dictate. 

On  the  following  Monday,  the  storm  con- 
tinuing, these  clerical  gentlemen  passed  the 
forenoon  comfortably  seated  before  a  large, 
blazing,  cheerful  wood  fire,  in  the  study  of  Mr. 
Colewood,  talking  over  many  things  about 
ministers  and  churches  in  that  desultory  sort  of 
manner  which,  under  such  circumstances, 
comes  very  naturally,  and  is  not  very  uncom- 
mon. We  will  relate  some  disjointed  portions 
of  that  conversation,  as  it  may  interest,  and 
possibly,  PROFIT  some  of  our  readers. 

Colewood.  Have  you  any  Millerites  in  your 
church  ? 

J\lclrose.  Only  two,  thank  Heaven,  and 
they  are  such  narrow  minded  men,  that  they 
exert  but  little  influence. 

C.  I  am  glad  that  none  of  my  people  have 
yet  become  tainted  with  that  foolish  delusion, 
for  I  could  not  have  any  patience  with  them. 

•M.  Oh  yes,  you  could,  for  you  know  we 
must  have  patience  with  all  men,  errorists  as 
well  as  others. 

C.  Old  Johnny  Angell,  of  Providence, 
used  to  say,  "It  is  a  point  that  I  will  yield  to 


CONVERSATION.  201 

no  man,  that  I  know  as  much  about  unknowa- 
ble things  as  any  other  man."  So  I  say  I 
know  as  much  about  the  time  of  Christ's  com- 
ing as  any  other  man,  and  I  know  nothing 
about  it,  and  I  have  no  patience  with  those 
who  pretend  to  know.  Besides,  I  don't  be- 
lieve the  Millerites  are  sincere ;  that  is,  the 
great  body  of  them.  How  can  a  man  really 
believe  Christ  is  coming  so  soon,  and  yet 
build  him  a  house  with  just  as  much  care  as  if 
he  knew  he  should  live  in  it  forty  years ;  or 
send  his  ship  round  Cape  Horn  on  a  three 
years'  voyage  ;  or  purchase  a  farm,  and  tug 
and  toil  to  put  it  in  order  ?  Fudge !  they 
don't  believe  any  such  thing. 

J\t.     You  are  hard  on  the  poor  Millerites. 

C.  Well,  it  is  time  to  be  hard.  Ministers 
have  been  too  easy  with  them,  and  the  delu- 
sion has  crept  into  too  many  churches  already. 

M.  I  see  D'Aubigne  there  on  your  shelf; 
have  you  read  it  ? 

C.  No,  I  have  not ;  I  purchased  it  on  last 
Friday.  Have  you  read  it  ? 

J\l.  Yes,  I  have,  and  with  much  interest,  I 
assure  you.  I  could  scarcely  lay  the  book 
down  till  I  finished  it.  I  am  waiting  with  im- 


202  THE    UNIQUE. 

patience  for  the  other  volumes.  It  is  a  charm- 
ing history.  He  portrays  Luther's  character 
most  graphically ;  and  in  fact  you  have  no  idea 
of  the  web  of  interest  he  weaves  round  all  the 
prominent  characters  that  figured  in  the  great 
Reformation. 

C.     The  press  eulogizes  it  very  highly. 

M.  Have  you  heard  that  br.  Bangus  is 
soon  to  leave  his  church  ? 

C.     No,  1  have  not.     Why  does  he  leave  ? 

•M.  He  feels  it  his  duty  to  be  an  agent  for 
the . 

C.  Fiddle  !  How  is  it  that  men  who  say 
they  are  called  to  preach  the  gospel,  can  feel  it 
their  duty  to  give  up  the  ministry,  and  travel 
about  on  agencies  ? 

M.  I  don't  know ;  but  that  is  not  half  as 
strange  as  some  other  things  in  the  world.  It 
may  be  they  have  india  rubber  consciences,  as 
I  heard  a  man  the  other  day  denominate  pli- 
able consciences. 

C.  I  should  think  so.  But  what  other 
things  do  you  refer  to  ?  What  do  you  mean  ? 

M.  Such,  for  instance,  as  everlastingly 
picking  upon  the  minister's  wife ;  finding  fault 


CONVERSATION.  203 

\vith  her  appearance,  dress,  household  manage- 
ment, and  in  fact,  everything  she  says  and  does. 

C.  What  in  the  world  made  you  think  of 
that  ?  Do  your  people  pick  upon  Mrs.  Mel- 
rose  after  that  fashion  ? 

M.  Oh  no,  not  at  all.  1  believe  our 
church  are  not  guilty  of  any  such  mean  and 
despicable  business,  but  br.  Lesion's  people 
are  at  it.  He  told  me  himself,  and  says  "if 
they  do  not  stop  their  abuse  he  will  resign  his 
charge,  for  he  will  not  hear  so  much  foolish 
fault-finding  about  as  good  a  woman  as  his 
wife  is." 

C.  I  have  heard  something  of  the  kind. 
My  people,  as  far  as  I  know,  have  nothing  to 
say  against  my  wife.  They  find  some  fault 
with  me,  but  I  believe  they  consider  her  a 
very  fair  sort  of  a  woman. 

.17.     What  fault  do  they  find  with  you  ? 

C.      They  complain  that  I  am  too  reserved. 

M.  Goodness !  That's  the  last  fault  I 
should  think  would  ever  be  found  with  you. 
What  would  they  say  of  br.  Dillington,  if  he 
were  settled  here  ? 

C.  Say  ?  He  could  not  remain  here  a 
month,  and  pursue  the  same  course  that  he 
does  at  Xewington. 


204  THE 


tM.  I  should  say  you  were  too  free,  rather 
than  too  reserved.  By  the  way,  speaking  of 
br.  Dillington,  do  you  know  what  it  cost  his 
people  to  alter  their  house  ? 

C.  Not  exactly,  but  one  of  his  deacons 
said  it  would  be  about  $3000,  as  near  as  could 
be  calculated  ;  and  I  think  it  is  wrong  to  ex- 
pend so  much,  merely  to  pamper  their  pride. 

M.     What  do  you  mean  ? 

C.  What  do  I  mean  ?  Why,  was  not 
their  house  good  enough  before  it  was  remod- 
elled ?  It  was  just  as  good  as  it  is  now,  only 
not  so  modern  looking.  The  only  reason  why 
it  was  altered  was,  to  pamper  their  pride,  that 
they  might  say  their  meeting-house  looked  as 
well  as  any  in  Newington. 

M.  Not  quite  so  fast.  Perhaps  they 
thought  that  if  they  fitted  up  their  house,  and 
made  it  more  inviting,  they  would  stand  a  bet- 
ter chance  of  drawing  in  the  people. 

C.  Perhaps  !  But  you  and  I  both  know 
that  a  vast  amount  of  money  is  uselessly  ex- 
pended on  meeting-houses,  not  only  in  building 
many  of  them  too  costly  in  the  fi^st  place,  but 
in  repeatedly  altering  them  when  they  do  not 
actually  need  it.  How  much  of  this  money 


CONVERSATION.  205 

might,  with  greater  propriety,  have  been  given 
to  the  heathen  !  I  tell  you  what  it  is — there  is 
an  absurdity  in  seeing  a  minister  standing  in  a 
splendid  pulpit,  with  a  large  and  rich  damask 
curtain  behind  him,  pleading  for  missions,  and 
urging  upon  his  people  self-denial,  that  they 
may  give  the  more  to  perishing  idolaters,  when 
that  people  have  lavished  their  thousands  mere- 
ly to  gratify  his  and  their  pride  in  decorating 
their  meeting-house.  I  am  heart  sick  of  such 
things. 

J\f.  It  seems  to  me  you  are  particularly 
severe  this  morning. 

C.  Not  at  all.  I  believe  in  having  every- 
thing decent  and  comfortable  about  the  sanctua- 
ry, but  further  than  that  I  believe  is  unacceptable 
to  God. 

J\L  We  think  of  altering  our  house  this 
spring. 

C.  I  should  think  it  was  time  to  alter  it. 
I  was  going  to  say  it  was  built  before  the  flood. 
Why  yesterday,  when  I  was  preaching,  I  did 
not  know  but  that  I  should  be  drowned  out. 
Several  had  to  change  their  seats,  the  rain 
came  through  so.  Such  an  old  trap  as  thai 
18 


206  THE    UNIQ.UE. 

ought  to  be  altered ;  at  least,  the  leaks  ought 
to  be  stopped. 

Enter  Mrs.  Colewood,  and  addressing  her 
husband,  says,  The  sexton  has  called  to  know 
whether  he  shall  open  the  house  this  evening, 
or  the  vestry.  He  says  Mr.  Savage  has  for- 
bidden his  daughters  to  attend  our  meeting  any 
longer. 

C.  Has  he  ?  That's  too  bad  !  He  is  a 
mean  slaveholder.  Br.  Melrose,  which  do 
you  prefer  to  preach  in,  the  vestry,  or  the 
house  ? 

M.  I  don't  care  which — it  is  immaterial 
to  me. 

C.  Well,  my  dear,  then  tell  the  sexton  if 
it  continues  stormy,  we  will  hold  the  meeting 
in  the  vestry ;  but  if  it  clears  off,  he  can  light 
up  the  house.  [Exit  Mrs.  Colewood. 

M.  What  did  you  mean  by  calling  that 
Mr.  Savage  a  slaveholder  ? 

C.  I  mean  that  he  is  a  detestable  tyrant ; 
an  unnatural  father,  who  would  hold  the  con- 
sciences of  his  children  in  abject  and  degrading 
slavery  to  his  own  wicked  will. 

J\l.  So  then,  you  class  him  among  the 
slaveholders,  do  you  ? 


CONVERSATION.  207 

C.  Certainly  I  do.  He  is  as  much  a 
slaveholder  as  any  cotton  planter  in  Missis- 
sippi ;  and  if  I  had  to  be  a  slave  at  all,  I  would 
as  soon  be  a  black  slave,  and  toil  on  a  southern 
plantation,  as  to  be  the  white  slave  of  a  north- 
ern tyrant.  I  consider  that  there  are  six  dis- 
tinct classes  of  slaveholders  in  these  United 
States. 

Jlf.  Indeed  !  Let  us  hear  who  they  are, 
for  I  have  not  thought  of  so  many  classes. 

C.  Well  then,  the  first  class  consists  of 
wicked  men  at  the  South,*  who  care  nothing 
about  the  right  or  wrong  of  slavery,  but  who 
are  determined  to  retain  the  system,  come 
what  will,  and  buy,  sell,  work,  beat  and  abuse 
the  slaves  as  much  as  they  choose. 

The  second  class  is  composed  of  good  men 
at  the  South  who  are  kind  to  their  slaves ;  who 
think  that  the  Bible  justifies  slavery,  and  there- 
fore consider  that  they  are  doing  no  wrong  in 
keeping  their  fellow  beings  in  bondage. 

The  third  class  comprises  those  good  men 
in  the  Southern  states  who  consider  slavery  a 
curse  ;  who  believe  the  Bible  does  not  sanction 

*  Mr.  Colewood  meant  to  include  by  "the  South," 
all  the  slaveholding  states. 


208  THE    UNIQUE. 

it,  and  who  would  do  anything  that  might  come 
within  their  power  to  abolish  it,  but  who  are  so 
cramped  and  restrained  by  the  cruel  laws  of 
the  slave  states,  that  they  cannot  do  anything, 
and  therefore  are  unwillingly  implicated  in  this 
iniquity. 

The  fourth  class  consists  of  men  who  live  in 
the  free  states,  but  who  uphold  slavery ;  who 
plead  for  it,  and  who  possess  the  spirit  of  the 
most  brutal  slaveholders  in  Louisiana,  and  who, 
if  they  lived  at  the  South,  would  greedily  buy 
and  sell  their  species,  and  barter  in  human 
blood. 

The  fifth  class  embraces  those  individuals, 
scattered  here  and  there  in  all  parts  of  the 
land,  who  hold  their  own  flesh  and  blood,  the 
members  of  their  own  families,  in  gross  and 
unrighteous  servitude  of  soul ;  who,  like  Mr. 
Savage,  take  away  their  liberty  of  conscience. 
Sometimes  a  man  will  hold  his  wife  in  this  de- 
grading bondage.  She  will  wish  to  join  a 
church,  and  he,  like  a  base  tyrant,  will  forbid 
it.  I  knew  three  men  in,  one  town,  who  thus 
made  slaves  of  their  wives.  I  have  known 
Universalists  and  Unitarians  thus  to  prove 
themselves  slaveholders,  forbidding  their  wives 


CONVERSATION.  209 

and  children  attending  an  evangelical  meeting. 
I  have  known  even  professed  Christians  who 
were  slaveholders,  who  would  not  allow  their 
children  to  join  other  Christian  churches.  I 
knew  one  female  Christian  slaveholder,  whose 
twin  daughters  were  converted  in  a  revival, 
and  one  of  them  conscientiously  thought  that 
she  ought  to  join  the  church  where  she  was 
converted  ;  but  she  was  compelled  by  her  ty- 
rannical mother  to  join  another  one.  I  con- 
sider the  slaveholders  of  this  class  the  vilest  of 
the  whole. 

The  sixth  class  consists  of  abolitionist  slave- 
holders. That  is,  those  ranting  abolitionists 
who  will  not  acknowledge  any  man  as  a  true 
and  genuine  abolitionist  who  may  in  the  least 
respect  differ  from  themselves.  These  men 
possess  the  spirit  of  the  worst  despots  that 
have  ever  cursed  the  earth ;  and  they  would 
gladly  put  their  feet  upon  the  necks  of  all  abo- 
litionists who  differed  from  them,  and  keep 
them  there  till  they  agreed  with  them  in  every 
particular.  If  it  were  in  their  power,  they 
would  establish  an  anti-slavery  inquisition,  and 
make  every  man  endure  worse  tortures  than 
were  ever  suffered  in  the  Spanish  inquisition, 
18* 


210  THE  -UNIQUE. 

who  would  not  sign  their  abolition  creed. 
With  such,  I  have  no  fellowship,  for  instead 
of  friends,  I  consider  them  the  worst  enemies 
of  the  slave.  They  are  relentless,  implacable, 
persecuting  slaveholders.  Now  have  I  not 
shown  you  six  distinct  classes  of  slaveholders  ? 

M.  Yes,  I  think  you  have.  I  like  your 
classification  much.  There  are  several  per- 
sons in  my  town  who  may  be  reckoned  in  your 
fifth  class.  There  is  one  man  who  professes 
to  be  an  anti-slavery  man,  who  will  not  allow 
his  daughter,  a  young  lady  of  seventeen,  to  at- 
tend our  meeting. 

C.  His  profession  is  all  hypocrisy,  then, 
for  no  man  having  true  anti-slavery  principles 
in  his  breast,  will  act  the  part  of  a  mean,  das- 
tardly tyrant  over  his  children. 

«M .  Did  you  know  br.  Pinkerman  had  de- 
clared himself  an  abolitionist  ? 

C.  I  did  not,  but  he  ought  to  have  done 
so  long  ago.  I  do  hope  he  will  be  stable  now, 
and  not  whiffle  about  as  he  has  for  the  last 
seven  or  eight  years. 

*M.  I  heard  a  few  days  since  that  there 
was  trouble  in  the  camp  at  Barden  about  anti- 
slavery.  Some  of  the  pro-slavery  brethren 


CONVERSATION.  211 

are  very  decided  against  the  church  taking  any 
action  on  the  subject. 

C.  I  hope  br.  Sherlock  won't  flinch,  but 
will  carry  the  matter  straight  through  with  a 
steady  hand. 

J\L  Not  he  !  He  is  not  the  man  to  flinch. 
You  don't  find  the  word  flinch  in  br.  Sherlock's 
vocabulary. 

C.  If  I  knew  anything  about  the  church 
at  Barden,  he  will  have  a  trying  time  if  he 
don't  flinch. 

J\f.  By  the  way,  while  I  think  of  it,  do 
you  ever  have  any  trouble  among  your  singers  ? 

C.  Oh  yes,  they  have  a  blow  up  every 
now  and  then. 

»lf.  So  do  ours  ;  they  are  quarrelling  now 
about  one  of  the  female  singers.  They  say 
she  has  not  a  good  voice  for  singing  second, 
and  she  insists  on  singing  that,  or  not  singing 
at  all. 

C.  Our  choir  had  a  fight  a  short  time  since 
about  a  clarionet,  but  I  believe  they  are  at 
peace  among  themselves  now.  However,  I 
presume  it  will  not  last  long,  and  I  should  not 
be  surprised  if  there  should  be  some  to  leave 
the  seats  next  Sunday,  on  account  of  a  flute, 


212  THE    UNIQUE. 

or  bass  viol,  or  because  somebody  did  not  sing 
bass  right.  Oh !  did  you  know  br.  Sperry  is 
to  preach  his  farewell  sermon  at  Bloomington 
next  Sabbath  ? 

M.  I'm  sure  I  did  not.  What's  the  mat- 
ter there  ? 

C.  Why,  the  trouble  is,  there  are  a  few 
brethren  who  are  not  edified  by  his  preaching ; 
and  they  never  were  edified  by  the  preaching 
of  any  of  their  former  pastors. 

•M.  Dear  me  !  I  am  sorry  to  hear  it.  Br. 
Sperry  is  a  good  preacher,  and  if  they  are  not 
edified,  the  fault  must  be  in  themselves. 

C.  There  is  no  doubt  of  that.  There  is, 
in  many  of  our  churches,  a  little  clan  of  breth- 
ren who  govern  the  whole  concern,  and  as 
soon  as  they  are  the  least  displeased  with  the 
pastor  on  any  account,  come  before  the  church 
with  their  complaint  "they  are  not  edified," 
and  then  the  poor  man  must  be  shipped  off  at 
once. 

M.     Where  is  br.  Briddlebane  now  ? 

C.     He  has  gone  back  to  the  seminary. 

•M.  I  gave  him  a  very  plain  talk  a  few 
weeks  since.  1  don't  know  when  I  felt  so 
grieved  with  a  brother.  He  has  broken  off 
his  engagement  with  Miss  Marlton. 


CONVERSATION.  213 

C.  Has  he?  That  is  too  bad.  What 
reason  does  he  give  ? 

*V.  He  says  he  thinks  he  is  not  as  much 
attached  to  her  as  he  ought  to  he  to  marry  her. 

C.  Attached  to  her !  Why  did  he  not 
find  that  out  before  ?  I  should  think  he  might 
have  judged  of  his  feelings  so  as  not  to  let  the 
engagement  run  on  so  long.  Well,  was  not 
Miss  Marl  ton  much  attached  to  him  ? 

M.  Very  much.  The  poor  girl  feels 
wretchedly  about  it.  And  I  tell  you,  br. 
Colewood,  it  is  time  that  our  theological  stu- 
dents quit  this  business  of  trifling  with  the  af- 
fections of  young  ladies.  It  is  a  dishonorable 
and  wicked  piece  of  business.  How  often 
such  cases  occur ! 

C.  I  know  it.  It  is  high  time  such  busi- 
ness was  ended.  I  was  riding  in  the  stage,  a 
short  time  since,  with  a  man  who  was  telling 
of  a  similar  case ;  and  he  was  much  enraged 
about  it,  as  the  young  lady  was  his  brother's 
daughter.  He  was  not  a  pious  man,  and  I 
could  easily  see  that  it  caused  him  to  look 
upon  religion  with  suspicion. 

M.  I  told  Briddlebane,  plainly,  that  he 
had  done  wrong,  and  I  think  he  felt  it,  for  he 


214  THE    UNIQUE. 

semed  much  depressed  when  he  left  my  house. 

C.  Well,  he  ought  to  feel  depressed.  A 
man  that  will  jilt  a  young  lady  in  that  manner, 
a  man  that  will  suffer  an  engagement  to  go 
on  two  years,  and  then  break  it,  because  he 
thinks  he  is  not  attached  enough,  regardless  of 
the  lady's  feelings,  I  say  such  a  man  ought  to 
be  depressed.  He  ought  to  suffer, ,  and  he 
will,  if  he  has  any  conscience.  Our  professors 
in  the  theological  seminaries  ought  to  caution 
the  students  on  this  point,  and  also  about  run- 
ning in-  debt,  for  in  certain  quarters  there  is 
much  complaint  on  each  of  these  points. 

J\l.  1  know  it,  but  the  professors  cannot 
help  it. 

C.  True,  they  cannot  help  it,  that  is,  they 
cannot  make  the  students  avoid  these  two  evils, 
but  they  can  talk  about  the  iniquity  of  them 
more  than  they  do,  and  in  that  way  some  stu- 
dents .may  be  saved. 

M.  Did  Briddelbane  tell  you  that  his  pas- 
tor was  having  some  trouble  with  his  church  ? 

C.  Yes ;  he  said  they  found  fault  with  him 
because  he  went  away  so  much  to  deliver  Ly- 
ceum lectures,  but  I  did  not  suppose  it  would 
amount  to  anything  serious. 


CONVERSATION".  215 

M.  It  will  amount  to  something  serious, 
unless  he  stays  at  home  more.  But  what  do 
you  think  about  ministers  delivering  Lyceum 
lectures  ? 

C.  It  never  appeared  to  rne  exactly  the 
thing  for  a  minister,  but  if  others  think  it  their 
duty  to  do  so,  I  shall  not  interfere  with  them. 
For  one,  I  find  enough  to  do  in  my  church 
and  congregation  to  keep  me  busy.  I  have 
no  spare  time  for  the  preparation  of  such  lec- 
tures. 

..I/.  Nor  1.  The  fact  is,  I  do  not  have 
time  enough  to  take  care  of  my  people  as  well 
as  I  want  to. 

C.  Did  you  know  br.  Genolly  was  in 
trouble  among  his  people  ? 

ilf.  Yes,  I  have  heard  all  about  it,  and  I 
declare,  how  many  things  there  are  in  the 
churches  at  the  present  day  to  try  us  poor 
ministers. 

C.  That's  a  fact.  True  enough,  true 
enough!  And  then,  too,  how  many  things 
there  are  among  us  ministers  to  try  the  poor 
churches  !  While  it  is  a  wonder  to  me  how 
some  ministers  get  along  with  their  churches, 
it  is  equally  a  wonder  how  some  churches  get 
along  with  their  ministers. 


216  THE  UNIQUE. 

Here  a  little  rap  was  made  on  the  door,  and 
a  little  voice  succeeded  the  little  rap,  inform- 
ing these  ministers  that  dinner  was  ready.  So 
Mr.  Colewyod  opened  the  door,  and  taking 
his  little  son  by  the  hand,  they  all  three  ad- 
journed to  the  table  ;  and  here  we  bring  our 
protracted  chapter  to  a  close. 


REV.    T.    T.    TOMPKINSON.  217 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

REV.  THOMAS  THOMPSON  TOMPKINSON. 

Mr.Tompkinson  was  ordained,  many  years 
ago,  over  a  church  in  a  pleasant  village  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, "under  favorable  and  auspicious 
circumstances,"  as  the  newspapers  of  these 
days  sometimes  say.  He  labored  with  all  his 
heart  for  the  good  of  this  people,  a  little  more 
than  two  years,  during  which  time  they  were 
blessed  with  a  gracious  revival,  which  greatly 
increased  both  the  church  and  congregation. 
Some  of  the  members  became  dissatisfied  with 
the  doctrinal  views  of  Mr.  Tompkinson,  not 
considering  him  sufficiently  Calvinistic,  and 
made  so  much  trouble  on  account  of  his  sup- 
posed heresy,  that  he  resigned  his  charge  of 
the  church,  and  removed  to  the  seaport  town 
of ,  in  Maine.  Here  he  labored  diligent- 
ly for  three  years  ;  and  although  there  was  no 
special  revival,  he  had  the  pleasure  of  adding 
some  thirty-five  or  forty  to  the  church,  who 
hoped  that  they  had  "passed  from  death  unto 
life." 

19 


218  THE    UNIQUE. 

At  the  end  of  the  three  years  he  left  this 
people,  because  he  was  exceedingly  tried  with 
one  of  the  deacons,  who  was  much  offended 
with  him,  on  the  ground  that  he,  Mr.  Tomp- 
kinson,  did  not  treat  him  with  that  respect  and 
attention  which  he  thought  was  due  to  his  age 
and  experience.  This  deacon  was  a  kind  of 
an  "old  betty,"  and  was  a  very  difficult  man 
to  get  along  with  at  all,  because  he  was  of  a 
very  jealous  turn  of  mind,  and  was  continually 
surmising  that  he  was  slighted.  He  had,  how- 
ever, considerable  influence  in  the  church,  and 
he  brought  it  to  bear  upon  Mr.  Tompkinson 
in  such  a  manner  that  he  was  induced  to  ac- 
cept a  call  from  the  church  in  the  farming 
town  of ,  in  New  Hampshire. 

With  this  church  he  did  not  remain  but  one 
year,  as  he  found  himself  very  unpleasantly 
situated  on  account  of  the  tongues  in  his  parish. 
Those  tongues  run  so  fast,  and  tattled  so  fool- 
ishly about  his  house,  furniture,  wife,  children, 
horse,  &c.,  and  seemed  to  be  so  much  in  the 
way  of  his  doing  good,  (for  none  were  con- 
verted under  his  ministry  here)  that  he  was 
glad  to  get  away,  and  once  more  cast  his  lot 
in  Massachusetts.  He  settled  in  a  small  man- 


REV.    T.    T.    TOMPK1NSO.V.  219 

ufacturing  town,  where  he  was  comfortably 
maintained,  and  where  his  usefulness  seemed 
to  be  increasingly  great  from  year  to  year. 
His  people  were  very  kind  and  affectionate, 
and  everything  went  on  pleasantly  and  pros- 
perously, till  four  years  and  two  months  had 
passed  away,  when  a  certain  case  was  brought 
into  the  church,  of  such  a  character  that  it  cre- 
ated strong  opposing  parties.  Mr.  Tompkin- 
son  doing  as  ministers  frequently  do  under  such 
circumstances,  that  is,  warmly  espousing  the 
interest  of  one  party,  so  grievously  offended 
the  other,  that,  from  that  evening,  he  saw  not 
one  single  day  of  peace  till  he  quitted  the 
place.  No  opening  presenting  itself  immedi- 
ately, he  removed  to  a  neighboring  town,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  teaching  in  an  academy,  and 
occasionally  supplying  pulpits,  for  five  months, 
when  he  complied  with  the  invitation  of  a 
church  in  New  York  state  to  become  their 
pastor. 

In  this  enterprising  and  thriving  young  town 
(a  city  now)  he  had  a  better  church  under  his 
care  than  he  had  in  any  of  the  places  where  he 
had  previously  preached.  The  call  was  not 
quite  unanimous,  but  the  minority  that  voted 


220  THE    UNIQUE. 

against  it  was  so  small,  that  nothing  was  said 
to  him  about  it  in  the  invitation.  He,  how- 
ever, had  the  good  fortune  to  win  upon  their 
affections  in  such  a  manner,  that  before  six 
months  had  passed  they  were  among  his  strong- 
est friends.  In  this  place  he  remained  six 
years,  preaching  the  gospel  with  success,  and 
almost  monthly  adding  more  or  less  to  the 
church.  The  congregation  increased  so  rap- 
idly, that  before  two  years  had  expired,  their 
house  of  worship  was  razed  to  the  ground,  and 
a  larger  and  finer  structure  erected  upon  its 
site.  As  the  people  had  become  very  much 
attached  to  their  pastor,  he  probably  would 
have  remained  here  much  longer  than  he  did, 
had  he  not  become  involved  in  the  masonic 
trouble,  which  was  then  raging  with  great  and 
exciting  violence  in  that  section  of  the  country. 
How  he  was  involved  in  this  matter  we  are  not 
able  to  say ;  but  it  so  seriously  affected  his 
ecclesiastical  relations,  that  he  deemed  it  the 
path  of  prudence  to  retire  to  another  field  of 
labor,  and  accordingly  went  to  Rhode  Island, 

and  settled  over  the  church  in . 

During  his  residence  in  this  place  he  was 
very  unhappy.     As  the  temperance  reforma- 


REV.    T.    T.    TOMPKINSON.  221 

tion  at  that  time  had  scarcely  commenced,  he 
found  a  large  majority  of  the  people  addicted 
to  the  free,  use  of  intoxicating  liquors.  Many 
of  the  Colonels  and  Majors,  and  the  Captains 
and  Squires  of  the  town  were  confirmed  drunk- 
ards ;  and  what  was  still  more  shocking  to  his 
feelings,  several  of  his  church  members  were 
drunkards.  Even  one  of  his  deacons  was  a 
rum  seller  as  well  as  a  rum  drinker,  presenting 
the  interesting  consistency  of  serving  at  the 
Lord's  table  on  the  communion  Sabbath,  and 
the  next  day  serving  at  the  devil's  table,  by 
standing  behind  his  counter,  and  dealing  out 
his  drams  of  diluted  New  England  rum  to  rag- 
ged, filthy  sots,  who  appeared,  indeed,  in  the 
external  form  of  men,  but  who  lived  and  died 
like  brutes.  The  good  man  could  not  stand 
all  this.  Although  he  had  seen  rum  drinking 
and  rum  selling  in  other  places  where  he  had 
labored,  he  had  never  seen  them  on  this  wise 
before ;  he  had  never  seen  them  carried  on  so 
extensively  as  in  this  same  town  of  Rhode 
Island,  and  therefore  he  gave  something  more 
than  slight  hints  about  the  matter,  repeatedly, 
from  the  pulpit.  This  produced  a  tremendous 
uproar  in  the  church,  but  Mr.  Tompkinson 
19* 


222  THE 


stuck  by,  like  a  faithful  soldier,  till  the  uproar 
subsided.  He,  however,  did  not  feel  at  home 
here,  and  his  ministry  did  not  seem  productive 
of  much  good.  He  remained  as  long  as  he 
considered  it  duty;  viz.,  one  year  and  nine 
months,  and  then  crossed  the  state  line,  and 
took  charge  of  the  church  in  the  rich  farming 
town  of  -  ,  in  Connecticut. 

In  this  place  he  found  the  people  of  God 
quite  dead  in  religion,  and  disheartened  in  their 
feelings.  They  had  been  for  nearly  a  year 
destitute  of  an  under  shepherd,  and  everything 
wore  the  aspect  of  neglect.  Mr.  Tompkin- 
son,  however,  went  to  work  like  a  man  in 
earnest.  As  a  strong  man  goes  into  a  neglect- 
ed field,  with  a  determination  to  clear  it  of  the 
thorns  and  brambles  which  have  overspread  its 
soil,  that  it  may  be  prepared  for  the  reception 
of  the  generous  seed,  "to  give  bread  to  the 
eater,  and  seed  to  the  sower,"  so  he  vigorously 
nerved  himself  to  the  task  of  clearing  up  this 
moral  field,  that  it  might  be  prepared  for  spir- 
itual cultivation,  and  yield  the  fruits  of  spiritual 
increase.  His  assiduous  labors  as  a  pastor, 
and  his  popularity  as  a  preacher,  soon  revived 
the  heart  of  the  people,  and  ere  long  a  better 


nr.v.    T.   r.   TOMPKINSON.  22:3 

state  of  religions  feelina;  was  apparent.  Tin; 
church  began  to  arise  and  put  on  her  "beauti- 
ful  irarments  ;"  Christians  awoke  from  their  le- 
thargic slumbers ;  impenitent  men  becran  to 
inquire  the  wav  of  life;  and  before  a  year  had 
passed,  there  was  a  heart-cheering  and  glorious 
work  of  grace  progressing  through  the  toun. 
1  pwards  of  100  expressed  a  good  hope  in 
Christ,  as  the  fruit  of  this  revival.  Mr. 
Tompkinson  remained  with  this  church  three 
years,  which  under  his  ministry  increased  from 
ll.">toJll.  He  left  this  people  \vilh  reluc- 
tance, in  the  possession  of  their  highest  esteem 
and  most  cordial  affection  ;  and  he  would  not 
have  left  them  had  it  not  been  that  ///.?  licaltli 
was  evidently  declining,  under  his  many  and 
arduous  labors — for  he  was  not  the  man  to 
spare  himseli  in  his  work. 

lie  next  spent  sor.e  six  months  in  the  fam- 
ily ot  his  oulv  brother,  in  New  Hampshire, 
who,  hearing  ot  his  illness,  with  a  true  bro- 
ther's kindness,  iyviled  him  and  his  familv  to 
make  his  house  their  home  as  Ions;  as  they 
pleased.  This  man.  having  an  abundance  of 
the  things  of  this  world,  did  not  consider  it  a 
burden,  but  a  pleasure,  to  have  his  brother's 


224  THE    UNIQ.UE. 

family  remain  with  him.  In  his  house  Mr. 
Tompkinson  spent  many  pleasant  hours,  and 
many  profitable  hours,  for  his  brother  was  a 
godly  man,  and  loved  to  converse  about  spirit- 
ual things.  When  the  six  months  had  passed, 
Mr.  Tompkinson  being  quite  recruited  in 
health  and  strength,  again,  and  for  the  third 
time,  entered  the  Old  Bay  state,  and  was  in- 
stalled as  the  pastor  of  the  church  in  a  finely 
located  village  on  the  banks  of  the  river . 

In  this  village  he  found  a  trouble  which  he 
had  never  experienced  before,  and  that  was, 
a  wayward  backwardness  among  the  people  in 
paying  the  stipulated  salary.  In  other  places 
where  he  had  resided,  the  salary  had  always, 
after  some  sort  and  fashion,  supported  him, 
because,  though  it  varied  in  different  places, 
he  had  determined  at  all  events  to  live  within 
his  income,  or,  as  he  said,  "to  cut  his  coat  to 
his  cloth."  This  he  had  been  able  to  do  by 
economizing  and  managing,  as  he  had  always 
been  paid  quite  promptly  the  compensation 
agreed  to  be  given. 

Here,  however,  at  the  end  of  the  first  year, 
he  found  that  not  half  the  promised  salary  was 
paid.  Hoping  that  the  people  would  see  the 


REV.    T.    T.    TOMPKINSO.V.  225 

impropriety  and  injustice  of  such  a  course,  and 
would  pay  him  more  fully  and  regularly,  he 
labored  on  to  the  end  of  the  second  year,  and 
then,  finding  his  hopes  unfulfilled,  he  was  com- 
pelled to  leave  them,  as  it  was  impossible  for 
him  to  support  his  family  on  what  he  did  re- 
ceive. The  church  were  indebted  to  him 
several  hundred  dollars  when  he  left,  and  so 
great  has  been  their  meanness  and  wickedness, 
that  they  have  done  nothing  towards  cancelling 
that  debt,  even  to  this  day.  His  ministry  did 
not  prove  very  profitable  in  this  village  ;  wheth- 
er such  was  the  result  because  the  people 
practised  dishonesty  in  cheating  their  pastor, 
or  from  some  other  cause,  we  cannot,  of 
course,  decide. 

He   next   removed    to    the    farming    town 

of ,  where  he  remained  only  six   months. 

It  was  his  lot,  soon  after  settling  here,  to  be 
severely  afflicted  in  the  loss  of  his  wife,  with 
whom  he  had  lived  in  the  greatest  affection  for 
many  years.  Mr.  Tompkinson  considered  it 
proper,  on  account  of  his  children,  to  marry 
the  sister  of  his  deceased  wife,  especially  as 
Mrs.  Tompkinson,  on  her  death  bed,  said 
"she  hoped  he  would,  as  she  knew  her  sister 


226  THE  UNIQUE. 

would  prove  a  mother  to  her  children."  Mr. 
Toinpkinson  thought  it  consistent  and  becom- 
ing to  marry  this  lady  (who  had  resided  in  his 
family  several  years)  in  about  three  months 
after  his  wife's  decease.  Not  so  thought  the 
church.  Anything,  anything  but  "  consistent 
and  becoming,"  said  they.  Some  said,  "It  is 
wrong  ;"  others  said,  "It  is  shameful."  Some 
said,  "It  is  very  wicked  ;"  others  said,  "It  is 
awful."  Some  said,  "He  agreed  to  marry 
her  before  Mrs.  Tompkinson  died  ;"  and 
others  said,  "Poor  woman!  I  wonder  what 
she'd  have  said  if  she'd  known  how  soon  her 
husband  would  forget  her."  A  thousand 
things  were  said,  and  all  kinds  of  slanderous 
stories  were  invented  and  circulated,  till  Mr. 
Tompkinson,  wearied  with  the  number  and  va- 
riety of  the  same,  delivered  a  discourse  on 
slander,  from  the  words,  "The  tongue  can  no 
man  tame ;  it  is  an  unruly  evil,  full  of  deadly 
poison ;"  and  then  resigned  the  pastoral  care 
of  the  church. 

He  soon  received  a  call  from  the  church  in 

the  old  and  dilapidated    town  of ,  which 

he  accepted.  I  say  old  and  dilapidated,  be- 
cause it  was  one  of  the  oldest  towns  in  Massa- 


REV.    T.    T.    TOMFK1NSON.  227 

chusetts,  and  many  of  the  buildings  were  not 
only  deficient  in  paint,  but  more  or  less  of 
them  were  in  a  tumbling  down  condition. 
However,  in  this  said  ancient  town  there  was 
a  good  church,  and  over  this  church  Mr. 
Tompkinson  presided  some  four  years,  with 
mutual  satisfaction  to  himself  and  the  people, 
with  increasing  popularity,  and  with  a  good 
measure  of  success  in  the  work  of  his  Master. 
The  reason  of  his  leaving  arose  from  the  intro- 
duction of  the  anti-slavery  question  into  the 
church.  Declining  to  take  an  active  stand,  either 
for  or  against  the  abolitionists,  he  found  himself 
in  a  similar  situation  to  that  of  a  man  who  should 
be  sitting  on  a  fence,  while  the  people  on  both 
sides  were  pelting  him  because  he  would  sit 
there.  The  abolitionists  pelted  him  because 
he  would  not  join  with  them,  and  the  anti-abo- 
litionists pelted  him  equally  severely  because 
he  would  not  declare  for  them.  Finally  he  be- 
came so  sorely  bruised  with  this  continual  pelt- 
ing, that  he  preached  his  farewell  sermon,  and 
removed  to  the  town  of ,  still  in  the  bor- 
ders of  Massachusetts. 

Here  he  hoped  and  prayed  that  he  might 
spend  the  remainder  of  his   days  in  quietness 


228  THE    UNIQUE. 

and  peace.  He  found  a  thriving  church  in 
this  place,  an  affectionate  and  interesting  peo- 
ple ;  and  he  began  his  labors  under  very  plea- 
sant and  prosperous  circumstances ;  and  he 
soon  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  that  God 
was  blessing  those  labors,  not  only  to  the  edi- 
fication of  the  church,  but  to  the  conversion  of 
sinners.  Here  he  continued,  happy  and  use- 
ful, beloved  by  his  people,  and  increasing  in 
favor  among  the  other  denominations  of  the 
town,  till  some  of  his  church  members  became 
Millerites.  Mr.  Tompkinson,  believing  that 
their  views  were  erroneous  and  fanatical,  felt 
it  his  duty,  as  a  faithful  watchman,  to  warn  the 
people  against  them.  These  Millerites  were 
of  the  more  furious  kind ;  and  thinking  that 
their  pastor  stood  very  much  in  the  way  of  the 
advancement  of  their  doctrine,  they  were  ex- 
ceedingly severe  upon  him. 

Everything  was  said  against  him  which  these 
deluded  men  could  say.  They  alleged  "that 
he  was  in  the  way  of  the  conversion  of  souls, 
that  he  was  doing  more  harm  than  he  had  ever 
done  good,  that  he  was  a  poor  hypocrite,  an 
incorrigible  sinner,  an  unfaithful  watchman ; 
that  there  was  no  salvation  for  him,  and  that  he 
must  go  to  hell. 


REV.    T.    T.    TOMPKINSON.  220 

Mr.  Tompkinson,  not  relishing  the  idea  of 
being  disposed  of  for  eternity  in  this  summary 
sort  of  manner,  was  as  severe  upon  the  Miller- 
ites  as  they  were  upon  him.  The  trouble 
finally  came  before  the  church;  and  Mr. 
Tompkinson,  finding  that  the  church,  as  a  bodv, 
(with  some  noble  exceptions)  were  afraid  of 
the  Millerites,  and  would  not  come  up  to  their 
duty,  as  laid  down  in  the  gospel,  concerning 
those  who  make  divisions  and  trouble  in  the 
church  ot  God,  declined  serving  them  any 
longer  as  pastor,  and  requested  his  dismission. 

As  we  have  thus  accore^anied  Mr.  Tomp- 
kinson through  these  eleven  churches,  which 
brings  us  down  nearly  to  the  present  time,  we 
will  close  this  prolonged  narrative,  by  stating 
that  he  is  still  living,  that  he  is  fifty-seven  years 
of  age,  that  he  is  laboring  as  a  minister  in  the 
great  Western  Valley,  and  that  he  says,  "/ 
have  seen  ENOUGH  of  J\"cic  England,  and  desire 
to  spend  t)ie  residue  of  my  years  where  less  ISMS 
abound,  and  u-hcre  the  people  arc  more  FAITH- 
FUL to  stand  by  their  minister  through  THICK 
AND  THIN,  when  he  labors  for  the  BENEFIT  of 
their  souls."1 

20 


230  THE    UN1Q.UE. 


CONCLUSION. 

And  now,  reader,  it  is  time  to  bring  this  vol- 
ume to  a  close.  We  intended  to  have  written 
five  or  six  chapters  more,  illustrative  of  some 
things  in  the  religious  world,  that  might  inter- 
est, and  perhaps  profit,  but  we  have  already  so 
far  exceeded  our  proposed  limits,  that  we  think 
it  prudent  to  hasten  to  the  finis. 

Are  you  a  minister  ?  I  will  not  ask  you 
what  you  think  of  my  book,  for  that  is  none  of 
my  business.  I  shall,  however,  ask  one  favor 
of  you,  and  if  you  are  a  good  minister  of  the 
gospel,  I  know  you  will  grant  it.  I  desire 
that  you  would  pray  that  this  volume  may 
be  blessed  to  the  good  of  all  to  whom  it  is  in 
any  wise  applicable.  This  you  can  conscien- 
tiously do,  whether  you  regard  it  as  a  judicious, 
or  injudicious  publication. 

Are  you  a  professed  Christian,  a  member  of 
the  Redeemer's  visible  church?  You  have 
found  two  classes  of  Christians  described  in 
this  book.  One  class  make  trouble  in  the 


CONCLUSION.  231 

churches,  and  are  inconsistent  in  their  lives. 
The  other  class  do  not  make  trouble  in  the 
churches,  and  are  consistent  in  their  lives.  To 
which  class  do  you  belong  ?  You  may  easily 
decide  this  question  if  you  have  found  anything 
in  this  volume  applicable  to  yourself;  and  the 
probabilities  are,  that  you  have  found  something 
here  that  comes  athwart  your  track.  If  you  are 
ruffled  in  your  feelings,  and  with  an  unkind 
spirit  murmur  to  yourself,  "  That's  too  bad,  I 
am  afraid  the  writer  knows  me,  and  had  me  in 
mind;  THERE,  he  means  me  again,  1  declare; 
I  wish  the  writer  of  this  book  was  in  Guinea," 
YOU  belong  to  the  former  class.  If  in  the 
spirit  of  kindness  you  say,  "THERE,  /  have 
been  guilty  of  that  very  thing,  myself,  and  I 
am  glad  my  attention  is  thus  called  to  it,  for  I 
will  strive  to  overcome  it  now,  and  pray  for 
strength  to  gain  the  victory,"  YOU  belong  to 
the  latter  class. 

Christian  reader,  whatever  your  course  hith- 
erto may  have  been,  it  is  "my  heart's  desire 
and  my  prayer  to  God,"  that  henceforth  you 
may  walk  only  in  the  "path  of  the  just,  which, 
as  the  dawning  light,  shineth  more  and  more 
unto  the  perfect  day." 


232  THE    UNIQUE. 

Reader,  it  may  be  that  you  neither  profess 
religion,  nor  have  any  reason  to  believe  that 
you  possess  it.  You  may  have  been  some- 
what amused  while  reading  this  book,  but 
shall  it  produce  no  other  effect?  Do  not 
throw  aside  this  volume  with  a  laugh.  That 
will  not  be  wise.  Seriously  ask  yourself,  in 
view  of  all  that  is  contained  herein,  what  is  my 
duty  as  a  rational,  immortal  being,  hastening 
on  to  the  judgment  seat  of  Christ  ?  Is  it  my 
duty  to  make  sport  about  evangelical  ministers, 
churches  and  Christians,  because  there  are  so 
many  things  wrong  among  them  ?  Or,  is  it 
my  duty,  knowing  this  fact,  to  become  a  fol- 
lower of  the  Lord  Jesus  at  once,  and  set  an 
example  before  the  world  of  what  a  true  Chris- 
tian should  be  ?  I  appeal  to  the  conviction 
of  your  conscience  !  is  it  not  the  latter  ? 

Dear  friend,  every  devoted  minister,  and 
every  real  Christian,  will  acknowledge  that 
there  is  much  in  the  religious  world  to  weep 
over,  but  "what  is  that  tothee?"  Religion  is 
strictly  a  personal  concern  ;  a  matter  between 
yourself  and  your  Maker ;  and  if  you  die  in 
your  sins,  it  will  avail  you  nothing,  when  you 


CONCLUSION.  233 

stand  at  the  highest  tribunal  in  the  universe,  to 
plead,  on  your  own  behalf,  the  faults  of  Chris- 
tians. It  will  not  affect  the  case  between  you 
and  your  God  in  the  least,  if  every  professing 
Christian  now  on  earth  should  prove  an  arrant 
hypocrite,  and  sink  down  to  hell.  Remember, 
then,  that  if  you  permit  the  day  of  your  proba- 
tion to  pass  without  securing  an  interest  in  the 
"great  salvation,"  it  will  afford  no  relief  to 
your  lost  spirit  in  the  dismal  prison  of  despair, 
to  reflect  upon  the  faults  of  Christians. 

Then  you  may  curse  the  memory  of  that 
minister  who  failed  to  declare  the  whole  coun- 
sel of  God,  but  will  that  assuage  the  anguish  of 
the  flame  which  will  never  be  quenched  ? 
Then  you  may  bitterly  curse  the  memory  of 
that  Christian  who  never  warned  you  to  "flee 
from  the  wrath  to  come,"  but  will  that  ease 
one  pang  of  the  worm  which  will  never  die  ? 
Say,  thinking  man,  will  these  things  mitigate 
your  sufferings  then1?  Religion  is  a  personal 
concern ;  you  will  believe  it  then,  if  you  do 
not  now  ;  but  alas  !  too  late.  Oh,  stop  now, 
in  your  downward  course  ;  think,  act,  fly  to  the 
Redeemer  of  sinners.  Tarry  not,  haste,  es- 
20* 


234  THE    UNIQUE. 

cape  for  thy  life,  lest  thou  "  fulfil  the  judgment 
of  the  wicked,  and  judgment  and  justice  take 
hold  on  thee  ;  then  a  great  ransom  cannot  de- 
liver thee." 


1ICSB  LIBRAE 


